Investigando o processamento de narrativas na lesão cerebral de hemisfério direito

Abstract

Advances in neuroscience have allowed us a more refined study of language processing, and hemispheric specialization. In relation to text processing, previous research has indicated a greater involvement of the left hemisphere (LH), associated with text integration, which means, the understanding of macrostructure, and the creation of an appropriate situational model to the text; whereas other studies focus on a more effective engagement of the right hemisphere (RH) in this processing. Considering the understanding of the microstructure, it seems to be consensual that the LH is largely responsible for it. This research aims to determine how right hemisphere brain-damaged (RHBD) participants process narrative texts in the three levels of comprehension: micro, macro and situational model. We bring the following questions: how do individuals with RHBD process a narrative text? Is there any difference between these individuals and the control group concerning the reading comprehension of micro, macro and mental model of a narrative? Is there any relation between a good performance in tasks of memory and executive functions and higher accuracy in narrative comprehension? We are searching for answers to these questions through the implementation of this study. A control group, two comparative lesion participants, and a RHBD case individual participated in the study. These participants underwent a neuropsychological evaluation, followed by linguistics tests. The results support the view that the RH has a special participation in the understanding of the macrostructure and the situational model of the texts. This research provided data to extend our understanding of the language pathology functioning, its relation to the cerebral hemispheres, as well as their interrelationship with other cognitive processes of working, episodic memory, and executive functions.