Backward speech
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The trait of backward speech is described as an ability to spontaneously and accurately reverse words. Two strategies of word reversal were reported: reversal according to the phonetic structure of the words or reversal according to their spelling.[1] In the 1980s Nelson Cowan hypothesized that this ability is afforded by an extraordinary working memory.[2] Recent studies have provided evidence that the working memory is indeed involved in this ability and further suggested that genetic factors may contribute to this trait.[1]
Some cases
- Patients of Nelson Cowan.[2]
- Italian-speaking patient that gained the ability to speak backwards after neurosurgery.[3]
- A patient that could talk backward after a head injury which resulted in conversion disorder.[4]
- Serbian family with the ability to speak backwards voluntarily.[1]
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