Discourse functions and hemispheric asymmetry

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the main results of an application of discourse analysis in aphasics with the left hemisphere damages and in the right hemisphere damaged (RHD) patients. Research findings indicate that aphasics have marked deficits on the level of microstructure, especially cohesion of discourse, whereas the coherence and superstructure of their texts are relatively well preserved. RHD patients show difficulties at the microstructure of discourse but not so marked as that of aphasic subjects. The main impairments of RHD patients’ discourse can be observed at the level of text coherence. The both populations have also preserved cognitive representation concerned with script knowledge. Discourse processing at macrostuctural level of discourse is affected in aphasics as well as in RHD patients. These results suggest that both hemispheres are necessary for normal discourse processes.