Performance on a semantic verbal fluency task across time: Dissociation between clustering, switching, and categorical exploitation processes

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate semantic retrieval processes and errors across time during a semantic fluency task and to specify their components (i.e., executive vs. semantic). To do so, we analyzed the productions of 50 healthy participants (using the "supermarket" fluency task). The scores were compared before and after a 30-s interval. Across time, the results showed a decrease in the number of words produced and hard switching. Cluster switching and the number of intrusions remained constant, while clustering, and both the number of exemplars and repetitions increased. These results are discussed in terms of a progressive involvement of a semantic cognitive strategy of retrieval.

Clustering e switching em deficientes auditivos usuários do português brasileiro: fluência verbal semântica e fonológica

“…This increased speed of evocation is evidenced in several studies [11][12][13] by the relation between cluster size and the increase in the total number of words recalled in the test of semantic verbal fluency category "animals", similar to what was found in this study.…”

“…The number of changes between clusters (switching) also showed a direct correlation with the total number of words, significant for the two tested categories, as reported in other studies [11][12][13] . Probably a higher switching speed represents the occurrence of smaller breaks and gaps during the recalling and the possibility of accessing a greater number of subgroups in each category.…”

“…On the other hand, phonological categorization occurs by with Brazilian subjects 11 , in which the most common animals were "dog", "cat" and "horse" (all included in the category of "domestic animals"). However, studies have shown differences between animals raised by subjects of different educational levels and gender [11][12][13]23 , highlighting the cultural role in lexical organization and the need to analyze sociobiological factors in cognitive-linguistic examination.…”

“…However, some studies of young adults [11][12][13][14][15] , elderly and neurological diseases 16,17 , provided data regarding the abilities of clustering and switching of these populations, arguing that this analysis provides aditional information in regard to the cognitive flexibility, executive function and lexical organization. There is no normative data for these parameters for Brazilian Portuguese.…”

Methodological Criteria for Scoring Clustering and Switching in Verbal Fluency Tasks

“…There are international studies of children samples (Hurks et al, 2010;Nieto, Galtier, Barroso, & Espinosa, 2008;Sauzéon et al, 2004;Tallberg, et al, 2011) and adult samples (Clark et al, 2012;Raboutet et al, 2010;Troyer, 2000;Troyer et al, 1997) with typical development. There are studies using samples of neurological patients with Parkinson's disease (Anzak et al, 2011;), Alzheimer's disease (Troyer, Moscovitch, Winocur, Leach et al, 1998;Zhao, Guo, & Hong, 2013), Huntington's disease (Rich, Troyer, Bylsma, & Brandt, 1999), stroke (Vivas & Naveira, 2010), and brain lesions without specific causes (Okruszek, Rutkowska, & Wilinska, 2013;Stuss, et al, 1998;Tröster et al, 1998;.…”