Discourse formulation and neurovascular activation across four genres

Abstract

Communication through discourse is the central method of human interaction. Discourse is a series of interconnected propositions that communicate a coherent message that is above the level of single sentences [1,2]. Formulating and understanding discourse is a linguistically and cognitively demanding task, and the ability to efficiently produce coherent discourse is critical for functional participation in family and social relationships, vocation, and community engagement [3-6]. Discourse analysis has Purpose: Discourse production is a naturalistic and commonly occurring form of communication. Thus, it is no surprise that discourse formulation is a clinically relevant assessment for persons who experience communication impairments associated with cognitive disruptions such as traumatic brain injury, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. The most commonly studied genre of discourse is the production of fictional narratives; however, little is known about the formulation of other, more commonly occurring and ecologically valid forms of discourse. To better understand the communication behaviors associated with these other discourse forms, this pilot research examined efficiency, informativeness, and neurovascular activation during formulation of procedural, personal, conversation, and fictional discourse produced by neurologically healthy adults.