Rapid and automatic speech-specific learning mechanism in human neocortex

Abstract

A unique feature of human communication system is our ability to rapidly acquire new words and build large vocabularies. However, its neurobiological foundations remain largely unknown. In an electrophysiological study optimally designed to probe this rapid formation of new word memory circuits, we employed acoustically controlled novel word-forms incorporating native and non-native speech sounds, while manipulating the subjects' attention on the input. We found a robust index of neurolexical memory-trace formation: a rapid enhancement of the brain's activation elicited by novel words during a short (~30min) perceptual exposure, underpinned by fronto-temporal cortical networks, and, importantly, correlated with behavioural learning outcomes. Crucially, this neural memory trace build-up took place regardless of focused attention on the input or any pre-existing or learnt semantics. Furthermore, it was found only for stimuli with native-language phonology, but not for acoustically closely matching non-native words. These findings demonstrate a specialised cortical mechanism for rapid, automatic and phonology-dependent formation of neural word memory circuits.

Mathematical modeling and computer technologies : youth conference-school, Vladivostok, September 25-29, 2017: a collection of materials

“…where (17) and the boundary conditions (18), (19), we obtain the following formulas for calculating the normalized temperature in a two-layer medium: …”

“…Let us consider the coupled radiative-conductive heat transfer problem which is formulated as in [18]. The equation of the radiation transfer in a two-layered medium 0 = 1 ∪ 2 , = ( −1 , ), i = 1, 2, where is the nondimensional optical coordinate.…”

“…In the analysis of the subject area and the development of ontology, papers [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33] were used, and ontology was discussed with domain experts.…”

“…( , ′ ) = 1 for all i=1,2. The equations of P 1 approximation for the radiative transfer equation have the following form [18]: is the approximation of the mean normalized intensity of radiation.…”

Ontology Model of Language Evolution

“…The model presented in the multi-sorted language of logic [6]. Although studies in the field of brain mapping are only underway, there is reason to suppose that this language structure has a registered neurobiological basis [3,5]. At this stage of the model development, we do not consider such a property of the language as inflectionality, but attention will certainly be paid to it in further research.…”