Fridriksson Script Corpus

Julius Fridriksson Aphasia Lab of the University of South Carolina University of South Carolina fridriks@mailbox.sc.edu website

Citation information

Fridriksson, J., Hubbard, H.I., Hudspeth, S.G., Holland, A.L., Bonilha, L., Fromm, D., & Rorden, C. (2012). Speech entrainment enables patients with Broca’s aphasia to produce fluent speech. Brain, 135 (12), 3815-2829.

In accordance with TalkBank rules, any use of data from this corpus must be accompanied by the above reference.

General Overview

The Aphasia Lab at the University of South Carolina was founded by Dr. Julius Fridriksson in 2001. The main purpose of the USC Aphasia Lab is to study language recovery in stroke survivors, specifically in those who are diagnosed with aphasia.

The Lab provides detailed speech and language diagnostics employing standardized testing, and also functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Using the fMRI technology, we are able to look at brain changes associated with recovery, and also study how stroke size and location relates to language, speech, and motor impairments. All of the research conducted in the lab is funded by the National Institutes of Health and there is no charge for participation. Since the establishment of the USC Aphasia Lab, we have tested over 80 participants, and conducted numerous studies where participants received treatment to target receptive and expressive deficits. Our goal is to continue to understand brain function as it relates to language difficulties/aphasia, in order to design better treatment options for those affected.

CHAT files and media files are named using this code: PX_TX_SX_CX.mp4

PX is the participant number
TX is the session number
   B2    baseline
   T2    week two
   T4    week four
   T6    week six
   P2    post two
   6W    six week follow up
SX is the script (weather, advocacy, eggs, and VAST)
CX is the condition code number
   1    baseline, using VAST, but no training
   2    during treatment, trained no VAST
   3    during treatment, untrained with VAST
   4    first posttest with VAST
   5    first posttest without VAST
   6    6 week with VAST
   7    6 week without VAST

Weather Script:
The weather in the Southern United States is usually very pleasant. During the spring, it is warm and sunny. During the summer, it is very hot with frequent thunderstorms. During the fall it is cool, and the leaves change colors. The winter is usually cold and dry, and it rarely snows.

Advocacy Script:
I have Aphasia. This means I have difficulty with language. Aphasia affects my language, not my intelligence. It is hard for me to understand what people are saying and to find the words to speak my thoughts. Please speak directly to me and give me time to communicate.

Eggs Script
I like to eat scrambled eggs for breakfast. I like them because they are fast and easy. To make eggs I get out a pan and melt some butter over medium heat. I crack the eggs into the pan and stir. I like scrambled eggs best so I stir until they are done.

VAST Script
I use video assisted speech therapy to help me communicate more easily. VAST is easy to use. I open VAST from the main menu on the iPod. Then, I choose the script I would like to use. I watch a person speak. It helps me find the words and say them clearly. I practice using VAST everyday.