Passive learning of speech sounds associated with microstructure of fronto-temporo-parietal but not fronto-striatal white matter tracts : possible implications for implicit language learning tasks
(2022) Federation of European Neuroscience Societies- Abstract
- Language learning involves implicitly acquiring a sensitivity for novel speech sounds and phonological structure [1]. Implicit learning skill differs between individuals [2] and this individual difference could potentially be reflected in the quality of white matter tracts relevant for speech perception and production [3] or for implicit sequence learning [4]. Implicit learning of speech has been suggested to draw from either corticostriatal circuits or from cortico-cortical associations with Broca’s area [5]. Most previous studies on neuroanatomical correlates of implicit learning have used tasks such as the serial reaction time task or artificial grammar tasks that lack phonologically relevant stimuli [4] which severely limits... (More)
- Language learning involves implicitly acquiring a sensitivity for novel speech sounds and phonological structure [1]. Implicit learning skill differs between individuals [2] and this individual difference could potentially be reflected in the quality of white matter tracts relevant for speech perception and production [3] or for implicit sequence learning [4]. Implicit learning of speech has been suggested to draw from either corticostriatal circuits or from cortico-cortical associations with Broca’s area [5]. Most previous studies on neuroanatomical correlates of implicit learning have used tasks such as the serial reaction time task or artificial grammar tasks that lack phonologically relevant stimuli [4] which severely limits interpretation of their results with regards to language
learning. To address this, we have used the implicit phonetic memory subtest (LLAMA D) of the LLAMA language learning aptitude tests [6], [7] and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to investigate possible associations between implicit learning of speech sounds and white matter microstructure important for speech perception and implicit learning. Findings from speech processing-related tracts presented here have been published [8] but possible associations between phonetic memory and quality of striato-frontal tracts important for implicit learning have not been investigated before. Such associations could indicate that the sensitivity to implicitly remember new speech sounds could shape or be shaped by the quality of the white matter pathways between language- and implicit learning-related brain areas. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Language learners must become able to perceive and process new speech sounds in order to segment words and sentences. The process of obtaining these skills is, to a high degree, implicit. However, research attempting to find the neuroanatomical correlates of such an implicit learning system has mostly used artificial grammar or serial reaction time tasks that are lacking in linguistic relevance. In this study, we investigated the relationship between aptitude for implicit learning of novel speech sounds and tissue microstructure in fronto-temporo-parietal and fronto-striatal white matter tracts using the LLAMA D (phonetic memory) test and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. We found positive correlations between phonetic memory... (More)
- Language learners must become able to perceive and process new speech sounds in order to segment words and sentences. The process of obtaining these skills is, to a high degree, implicit. However, research attempting to find the neuroanatomical correlates of such an implicit learning system has mostly used artificial grammar or serial reaction time tasks that are lacking in linguistic relevance. In this study, we investigated the relationship between aptitude for implicit learning of novel speech sounds and tissue microstructure in fronto-temporo-parietal and fronto-striatal white matter tracts using the LLAMA D (phonetic memory) test and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. We found positive correlations between phonetic memory scores and axial kurtosis in the left arcuate (AF) and superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) III (r=-0.518, p=8.53e-05 and r=-0.440, p=0.0011, respectively) as well as mean and radial kurtosis in the left SLF III (r=-0.356, p=0.0095 and r=-0.378, p=0.0058, respectively). Diffusion parameters in fronto-striatal tracts showed no significant association with phonetic memory score (all p>0.05). These results indicate that left AF and SLF III are important for passive memorisation of novel speech sounds, possibly linked to auditory-motor and sensorimotor associations involved in articulation. The lack of significant correlations in fronto-striatal tracts might be due to the absence of sequence learning in the LLAMA D test. This highlights the need for learning tasks that target more specific aspects of the neural bases of implicit learning. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/ab2b89b3-e46a-4446-a026-af058992a162
- author
- Novén, Mikael LU and Roll, Mikael LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- conference name
- Federation of European Neuroscience Societies
- conference location
- Paris, France
- conference dates
- 2022-07-09 - 2022-07-13
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ab2b89b3-e46a-4446-a026-af058992a162
- date added to LUP
- 2024-11-12 08:29:02
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 13:51:44
@misc{ab2b89b3-e46a-4446-a026-af058992a162,
abstract = {{Language learning involves implicitly acquiring a sensitivity for novel speech sounds and phonological structure [1]. Implicit learning skill differs between individuals [2] and this individual difference could potentially be reflected in the quality of white matter tracts relevant for speech perception and production [3] or for implicit sequence learning [4]. Implicit learning of speech has been suggested to draw from either corticostriatal circuits or from cortico-cortical associations with Broca’s area [5]. Most previous studies on neuroanatomical correlates of implicit learning have used tasks such as the serial reaction time task or artificial grammar tasks that lack phonologically relevant stimuli [4] which severely limits interpretation of their results with regards to language<br/>learning. To address this, we have used the implicit phonetic memory subtest (LLAMA D) of the LLAMA language learning aptitude tests [6], [7] and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to investigate possible associations between implicit learning of speech sounds and white matter microstructure important for speech perception and implicit learning. Findings from speech processing-related tracts presented here have been published [8] but possible associations between phonetic memory and quality of striato-frontal tracts important for implicit learning have not been investigated before. Such associations could indicate that the sensitivity to implicitly remember new speech sounds could shape or be shaped by the quality of the white matter pathways between language- and implicit learning-related brain areas.}},
author = {{Novén, Mikael and Roll, Mikael}},
language = {{eng}},
title = {{Passive learning of speech sounds associated with microstructure of fronto-temporo-parietal but not fronto-striatal white matter tracts : possible implications for implicit language learning tasks}},
year = {{2022}},
}