Functional reorganization of brain regions supporting artificial grammar learning across the first half year of life

Lin Cai, Takeshi Arimitsu, Naomi Shinohara, Takao Takahashi, Yoko Hakuno, Masahiro Hata, Ei-Ichi Hoshino, Stuart K Watson, Simon W Townsend, Jutta L Mueller, Yasuyo Minagawa (Corresponding author)

Publications: Contribution to journalArticlePeer Reviewed

Abstract

Pre-babbling infants can track nonadjacent dependencies (NADs) in the auditory domain. While this forms a crucial prerequisite for language acquisition, the neurodevelopmental origins of this ability remain unknown. We applied functional near-infrared spectroscopy in neonates and 6- to 7-month-old infants to investigate the neural substrate supporting NAD learning and detection using tone sequences in an artificial grammar learning paradigm. Detection of NADs was indicated by left prefrontal activation in neonates while by left supramarginal gyrus (SMG), superior temporal gyrus (STG), and inferior frontal gyrus activation in 6- to 7-month-olds. Functional connectivity analyses further indicated that the neonate activation pattern during the test phase benefited from a brain network consisting of prefrontal regions, left SMG and STG during the rest and learning phases. These findings suggest a left-hemispheric learning-related functional brain network may emerge at birth and serve as the foundation for the later engagement of these regions for NAD detection, thus, providing a neural basis for language acquisition.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere3002610
Number of pages24
JournalPLoS Biology
Volume22
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Oct 2024

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

  • 602040 Psycholinguistics

Keywords

  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Language Development
  • Male
  • Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared/methods
  • Female
  • Brain/physiology
  • Learning/physiology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Brain Mapping/methods
  • Temporal Lobe/physiology
  • Language
  • Prefrontal Cortex/physiology

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