On-line individual differences in statistical learning predict language processing

Jennifer B Misyak; Morten H Christiansen; J Bruce Tomblin

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00031

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On-line individual differences in statistical learning predict language processing

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

On-line individual differences in statistical learning predict language processing

Jennifer B Misyak, Morten H Christiansen and J Bruce Tomblin

Frontiers in psychology, Vol.1, pp.31-31

2010

DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00031

PMCID: PMC3153750

PMID: 21833201

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Abstract

Considerable individual differences in language ability exist among normally developing children and adults. Whereas past research have attributed such differences to variations in verbal working memory or experience with language, we test the hypothesis that individual differences in statistical learning may be associated with differential language performance. We employ a novel paradigm for studying statistical learning on-line, combining a serial-reaction time task with artificial grammar learning. This task offers insights into both the timecourse of and individual differences in statistical learning. Experiment 1 charts the micro-level trajectory for statistical learning of nonadjacent dependencies and provides an on-line index of individual differences therein. In Experiment 2, these differences are then shown to predict variations in participants' on-line processing of long-distance dependencies involving center-embedded relative clauses. The findings suggest that individual differences in the ability to learn from experience through statistical learning may contribute to variations in linguistic performance.

statistical learning

artificial grammar

relative clauses

serial-reaction time

individual differences

language processing

Details

Title: Subtitle: On-line individual differences in statistical learning predict language processing
Creators: Jennifer B Misyak - Department of Psychology, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
Morten H Christiansen
J Bruce Tomblin
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Frontiers in psychology, Vol.1, pp.31-31
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2010.00031
PMID: 21833201
PMCID: PMC3153750
NLM abbreviation: Front Psychol
ISSN: 1664-1078
eISSN: 1664-1078
Publisher: Switzerland
Language: English
Date published: 2010
Academic Unit: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984070353102771

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