Lexical-semantic functioning: issues for the neurolinguistic research and for the work with aphasic individuals

• Grant number: 16/02979-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research
• Start date: August 25, 2016
• End date: February 24, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics
• Principal Investigator: Rosana Do Carmo Novaes Pinto
• Grantee: Rosana Do Carmo Novaes Pinto
• Host Investigator: Carlo Caltagirone
• Host Institution: Instituto de Estudos da Linguagem (IEL). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy

Abstract

The research project entitled "Lexical-semantic Functioning: issues for the neurolinguistics research and to the work with aphasic subjects" aims to contextualize and justify the request of grants to FAPESP in order to be able to develop activities abroad (Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy) for six months (August 2016 to February 2017). The choice of IRCCS (Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico) Fondazione Santa Lucia - is due to the possibility of working in the two fronts that have characterized and guided my academic journey (besides teaching): (i) the communitary activities, considering that IRCCS is a renowned center for neurocognitive rehabilitation and (ii) the research I have been carrying on for many years, concerning the lexical-semantic functioning, which is also the focus of Sta Lucia's researchers. The supervisor of the activities will be Prof. Dr. Carlo Caltagirone, General Director of Santa Lucia Foundation. The general project goals are (i) contributing to a broader research (Semantic-lexical Functioning: inferences from the study of aphasia), sheltered by GELEP (Grupo de Estudos da Linguagem no Envelhecimento e nas Patologias), the research group I coordinate (Lattes Plataform/CNPq), and (ii) exchanging experiences on the follow-up/ rehabilitation work of subjects that present linguistic and cognitive difficulties that result from neurological episodes (focal or diffuse). Among the specific objectives are (i) continuing the research on lexical-semantic processing, focusing the production of Santa Lucia Foundation; (ii) reflecting on methodology for investigating neurocognitive phenomena; (iii) formulating explanatory hypotheses for the phenomena related to the "word finding difficulties" (WFD), especially about the relationship between language and other cognitive processes; (iv) reflect on activities that help aphasics to develop alternative processes of signification (verbal and nonverbal), minimizing the suffering caused by aphasia. I highlight my participation (i) in the evaluation sessions and therapeutic monitoring of individuals affected by neurological episodes, by multidisciplinary teams, (ii) in sessions to guide the families along the therapeutic process, (iii) in meetings to discuss clinical cases, seminars and classes; (iv) in the research groups meetings, as well as (v) proceeding to literature review about the theme at the University Tor Vergata library. The interaction with the staff of Santa Lucia Foundation will contribute significantly to my personal and academic development (in teaching, research and extension) in Neurolinguistics. (AU)