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On neural correlates of individual differences in novel grammar learning: An fMRI study

Authors :
Olga Kepinska
Johanneke Caspers
Niels O. Schiller
Mischa de Rover
Source :
Neuropsychologia, Neuropsychologia, 98, 156-168
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2017.

Abstract

We examine the role of language analytical ability, one of the components of language aptitude – a specific ability for learning languages – during acquisition of a novel grammar. We investigated whether the neural basis of Artificial Grammar Learning (AGL) differs between populations of highly and moderately skilled learners. Participants performed an AGL task during an fMRI scan and data from task's test phases were analysed. Highly skilled learners performed better than moderately skilled ones and engaged during the task more neural resources in the right hemisphere, i.e. in the right angular/supramarginal gyrus and superior frontal and middle frontal gyrus and in the posterior cingulate gyrus. Additional analyses investigating the temporal dynamics of brain activity during learning revealed lateralisation differences in the modulation of activity in the parietal and temporal cortex. In particular, the left angular gyrus BOLD activity was coupled with high performance on the AGL task and with a steep learning curve.

Details

ISSN :
00283932
Volume :
98
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Neuropsychologia
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....4a0cf217a47bf59a17a02d297701cd80
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.06.014