On neural correlates of individual differences in novel grammar learning: An fMRI study.
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.
Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Postbus 9515, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, c/o LUMC, Postzone C2-S, P.O.Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: o.kepinska@hum.leidenuniv.nl.
Olga
O
Kepinska
Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, c/o LUMC, Postzone C2-S, P.O.Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; Department of Anesthesiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Postzone P5-Q, P.O.Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands; Faculty of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychology, Clinical Psychology Unit, Pieter de la Court gebouw, Wassenaarseweg 52, 2333 AK Leiden, The Netherlands.
Mischa
M
de Rover
Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Postbus 9515, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, c/o LUMC, Postzone C2-S, P.O.Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Johanneke
J
Caspers
Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Postbus 9515, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands; Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, c/o LUMC, Postzone C2-S, P.O.Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
Niels O
NO
Schiller
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007206:Individuality; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D012660:Semantics; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
D010100:Oxygen
Artificial Grammar Learning; Individual differences; Language aptitude; Language learning; Second language acquisition; fMRI