Linking action and language for anomia rehabilitation: validation of videos to improve actions and objects naming

Background Language plays a pivotal role in human communication, relying on various cognitive processes such as phonological, semantic, and syntactic comprehension and expression. The Embodied Cognition theory posits that these cognitive processes are intricately linked with sensory and motor system activations. However, there is a lack of tools for effectively assessing and enhancing language abilities through motor engagement, particularly in rehabilitation settings for aphasic patients. Aims This study aimed to address the aforementioned gap by developing a set of videotaped actions and objects for use in rehabilitation protocols targeting anomia and evaluating them for depiction accuracy. Methods & Procedures We constructed 82 short phrases describing everyday actions, each paired with a spherical video depicting the action from a first-person perspective (1PP). These videos were recorded with the camera positioned on the actor’s forehead to simulate the viewer’s perspective as the agent of the action. Additionally, the same actions were recorded from a third-person perspective (3PP) in standard non-spherical videos. A total of 164 videos, comprising 82 spherical 1PP and 82 standard 3PP videos, were included in the stimulus set. To validate these stimuli, we conducted a study involving a sample of 40 healthy adult Italian speakers. Participants viewed either the spherical 1PP or standard 3PP videos and were asked to identify and name the action and object depicted in each video. Their responses were transcribed by the experimenter and later evaluated for depiction accuracy by 3 independent raters. Outcomes & Results Comparing how accurately spherical 1PP videos and standard 3PP videos depicted the intended actions revealed a significant discrepancy in recognizability in 9 video pairs, which were therefore excluded. This resulted in a final set of 146 videos (73 standard 3PP, 73 spherical 1PP) being retained for future applications. Conclusions The creation of this validated set of videotaped actions and objects provides a valuable resource for researchers and clinicians working with aphasic patients. By incorporating embodied rehabilitation protocols that engage both sensory and motor systems, we can effectively train naming abilities and improve language skills in these individuals. Future studies using these validated stimuli with aphasic patients could examine the effect of immersive virtual reality, specifically spherical 1PP videos, on enhancing embodiment and engagement during language rehabilitation interventions.