Attending to the Beat: Neural Mechanisms of Non-Adjacent Dependency Learning in Rhythmic Speech
Learning non-adjacent dependencies (NADs) is fundamental for acquiring grammatical structure, a process closely shaped by the developmental stage of attentional mechanisms. In turn, the quasi-rhythmic structure of speech may scaffold NAD learning by entraining neural oscillations and exogenously guiding attention toward relevant temporal positions. Across a series of fMRI and EEG-fNIRS studies with adults and infants, we investigate the brain mechanisms through which beat-inducing rhythms enhance NAD learning in artificial languages. In particular, we will examine (i) whether successful NAD learning involves differential engagement of motor and dorsal/ventral attention networks, using the INSIDEOUT framework (Deco et al., 2022) to characterize hierarchical network dynamics over the course of stimulus exposure, and (ii) how the developmental stage of these mechanisms influences the ability to exploit rhythmic cues to facilitate NAD learning.
You can attend in person in Bellvitge seminars room, or connect via Zoom using the following meeting link:
Date: January 12th, 12:00h
Location: Bellvitge seminar room and online with the following zoom link:
https://ub-edu.zoom.us/j/91093327900?pwd=GK0hHoXb0UcAqbsbaS9VkaeoOXbzDq.1
Meeting ID: 910 9332 7900
Passcode: 159265