Children with left perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) often exhibit language deficits. However, evaluations of learning abilities are scarce. We compared word-referent associative learning and Show more
Children with left perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) often exhibit language deficits. However, evaluations of learning abilities are scarce. We compared word-referent associative learning and recall performance using a fast-mapping paradigm in a group of 3.5-year-old children with PAIS and in age-matched controls. The task involved a referent selection phase followed by immediate and delayed recall trials of the novel word-object associations. While no between-group differences were observed in the referent selection and immediate recall, children with PAIS showed lower performance in delayed recall of the newly learned associations. These results suggest that word learning difficulties after PAIS may arise due to a memory retention failure rather than to the process of referent selection through disambiguation involved in the fast mapping task. We discuss these findings in relation to the neural bases of infant language acquisition and their implications for clinical practice, particularly in terms of improving lexical acquisition and retention in children with PAIS. Show less
While a growing body of literature exists on initial word-to-meaning mapping and retrieval of fully lexicalized words, our understanding on the consolidation that occurs between these two stages remai Show more
While a growing body of literature exists on initial word-to-meaning mapping and retrieval of fully lexicalized words, our understanding on the consolidation that occurs between these two stages remains limited. The current study investigated the neural correlates of retrieving newly learned word using oscillatory brain dynamics. Participants learned to associate new words with unknown objects and performed overt and covert naming tasks during the first and last days of a five-day training period. Behavioral results showed improved overt naming on Day 5 compared to Day 1. Selecting only words that were successfully produced in the overt naming task, we examined oscillatory activity associated with word retrieval while participants produced new words covertly, both pre- (Day 1) and post (Day 5) learning. The results showed a robust alpha (8-12 Hz) and lower beta (13-25 Hz) power decrease during covert naming after learning. We hypothesize that this alpha-beta power decrease indexes successful word retrieval following consolidation. Show less
Little is known about language development after late-to-moderate premature birth, the most significant part of prematurity worldwide. We examined minimal-pair word-learning skills in 18 eighteen-mont Show more
Little is known about language development after late-to-moderate premature birth, the most significant part of prematurity worldwide. We examined minimal-pair word-learning skills in 18 eighteen-month-old healthy full-term (mean gestational age [GA] at birth = 39.6 weeks; 7 males; 100% Caucasian) and 18 healthy late-to-moderate preterm infants (mean GA at birth 33.7 weeks; 11 males; 100% Caucasian). Data were collected in the local urban area of Barcelona city from May 2015 to August 2016. Toddlers first associated two pseudo-words, forming a minimal pair based on a voice onset time distinction of the initial consonant, with two unfamiliar objects during a habituation phase. A visual choice test assessed their recognition of the two novel word-object associations and some familiar word-object pairs. While full-terms successfully mapped the similar sounding pair of novel words (d = 1.57), preterms could not (d = 0.17). These results suggest that late to moderate preterm birth can hinder basic associative learning mechanisms relying on fine temporal speech features. Show less