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Cognitive and Neural Constraints on Timing and Rhythm in Language

Henke, Lena ; Beier, Eleonora ; Roll, Mikael LU orcid and Meyer, Lars (2026) p.316-331
Abstract

In this chapter, we discuss research from behavior, event-related brain potentials, and neural oscillations that suggests that cognitive and neural constraints affect the timing of speech processing and language comprehension. Some of these constraints may even manifest as rhythmic patterns in linguistic behavior. We discuss two types of constraints: First, we review how the unfolding acoustic and abstract context affects the timing of incremental processing on different linguistic levels (e.g., prosody, syntax). Second, we consider context-invariant constraints (e.g., working-memory trace decay, period of electrophysiological activity) and how these limit the duration of our processing time windows, thus restricting our segmentation... (More)

In this chapter, we discuss research from behavior, event-related brain potentials, and neural oscillations that suggests that cognitive and neural constraints affect the timing of speech processing and language comprehension. Some of these constraints may even manifest as rhythmic patterns in linguistic behavior. We discuss two types of constraints: First, we review how the unfolding acoustic and abstract context affects the timing of incremental processing on different linguistic levels (e.g., prosody, syntax). Second, we consider context-invariant constraints (e.g., working-memory trace decay, period of electrophysiological activity) and how these limit the duration of our processing time windows, thus restricting our segmentation and composition abilities.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Rhythms of Speech and Language : Physiology, Cognition, Culture - Physiology, Cognition, Culture
editor
Meyer, Lars and Strauss, Antje
pages
16 pages
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:105041370719
ISBN
9781009295888
9781009295857
DOI
10.1017/9781009295888.022
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026.
id
5c39a8cb-e641-4160-8e76-c5b54a52d497
date added to LUP
2026-08-13 08:38:55
date last changed
2026-09-10 10:26:44
@inbook{5c39a8cb-e641-4160-8e76-c5b54a52d497,
  abstract     = {{<p>In this chapter, we discuss research from behavior, event-related brain potentials, and neural oscillations that suggests that cognitive and neural constraints affect the timing of speech processing and language comprehension. Some of these constraints may even manifest as rhythmic patterns in linguistic behavior. We discuss two types of constraints: First, we review how the unfolding acoustic and abstract context affects the timing of incremental processing on different linguistic levels (e.g., prosody, syntax). Second, we consider context-invariant constraints (e.g., working-memory trace decay, period of electrophysiological activity) and how these limit the duration of our processing time windows, thus restricting our segmentation and composition abilities.</p>}},
  author       = {{Henke, Lena and Beier, Eleonora and Roll, Mikael and Meyer, Lars}},
  booktitle    = {{Rhythms of Speech and Language : Physiology, Cognition, Culture}},
  editor       = {{Meyer, Lars and Strauss, Antje}},
  isbn         = {{9781009295888}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{316--331}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  title        = {{Cognitive and Neural Constraints on Timing and Rhythm in Language}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/9781009295888.022}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/9781009295888.022}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}