Object Naming

   When we think of having to name objects that we see or are described to us we simply take it as another everyday task. It doesn't really strike us as something that would be so complicated or require much energy. In reality "the naming of visual objects is an immensely complicated process." (Hurley). In a study done at Northwestern University patients were tested on being able to name different objects and comprehend different words. Through a series of tests two different types of anomia were identified; one that was based on impaired retrieval and the second on distorted semantic representation of words. Through these tests different characteristics were found when it came to naming objects. First there were patients (PPA-GL) who could recognize the names of the objects and could associate them with the correct object but could not verbally express the objects name. An example would be a woman who was able to recognize objects and write their names but she was not able to verbally express the name of the objects.  In cases like these it was determined that the "problem could not be attributed to a distortion of nonverbal object representation" (Hurley). In other words it was said that naming failures occur when signals are too weak to elicit retrieval but not too weak where they can't recognize objects.  When people name objects two networks are required in order for the naming to occur. Both the bilateral inferotemporal lesions and the left hemisphere language network lesions are used; if either one of them where to be damage it would disrupt the other one causing a disconnection as well as causing both parts to not work properly. 
   Each part of the brain is connected or plays a role in helping other parts of our bodies function.  With studies like these we are able to learn and continue to discover new things about problems
like primary progressive aphasia. These situations give us insight into what other individuals are facing when they are not able ot name or comprehend certain objects or words. What seems to us as something very simple is something extremely difficult for them.