1. Different time courses of maturation for learning and generalization following auditory training in children.
- Author
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Zaltz, Y., Kishon-Rabin, L., Karni, A., and Ari-Even Roth, D.
- Subjects
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TASK performance , *LEARNING ability , *GENERALIZATION , *ADULTS , *LEARNING - Abstract
AbstractObjectiveDesignStudy sampleResultsConclusionsWe recently demonstrated that learning abilities among school-age children vary following frequency discrimination (FD) training, with some exhibiting mature
adult-like learning while others performing poorly (non-adult-like learners). This study tested the hypothesis that children’s post-training generalisation is related to their learning maturity. Additionally, it investigated how training duration influences children’s generalisation, considering the observed decrease with increased training in adults.Generalisation to the untrained ear and untrained 2000 Hz frequency was assessed following single-session or nine-session 1000 Hz FD training, using an adaptive forced-choice procedure. Two additional groups served as controls for the untrained frequency.Fifty-four children aged 7–9 years and 59 adults aged 18–30 years.(1) Onlyadult-like learners generalised their learning gains across frequency or ear, albeit less efficiently than adults; (2) As training duration increased children experienced reduced generalisation, similar to adults; (3) Children’s performance in the untrained tasks correlated strongly with their trained task performance after the first training session.Auditory skill learning and its generalisation do not necessarily mature contemporaneously, although mature learning is a prerequisite for mature generalisation. Furthermore, in children, as in adults, more practice makes rather specific experts. These findings should be considered when designing training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2024
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