Abstract: Objective To explore the influence of attention training on Chinese character processing capability in poststroke nonfluent aphasiacs. Methods 60 stroke patients with nonfluent aphasia and cognition dysfunction were divided into control group (n=30) and experimental group (n=30). The trainings (attention training and cognition training) were respectively 30 minutes each time, 5 times each week for 4 weeks. The change of reaction time and error rate were compared before and after they were performing the orthographic, semantic and phonological tasks. Results In the dual-task paradigm the change of reaction time and error rate in orthographic and semantic tasks of the experimental group were all higher than the control group (P<0.001). But there was no difference between the two groups in the phonological task (P>0.05). In the single task paradigm there was no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion 1. Attention training can improve the processing capacity significantly in orthographic and semantic tasks in the dual-task paradigm because the volume and distributive ability of attention improve significantly. 2. Attention training can't improve the processing capacity in phonological tasks in the dual- task paradigm because reading aloud and judging are required to process the vowel simultaneously. So that the competion intensifies and it is more difficult to finish the task. 3. In the single task paradigm, there is no significant difference between the influence of the two trainings in poststroke nonfluent aphasiac because the single task needs little attention and the change in the control group is enough.

Key words: attention training, stroke, nonfluent aphasiac, reaction time, error rate