Thesis supervisor: Brigitta Tóth
Location of studies (in Hungarian): BME Abbreviation of location of studies: BME
Description of the research topic:
Statistical learning is widely accepted as the primary mechanism of language learning. However, speech signals carry much information outside transitional probabilities (such as prosody), which are important for understanding verbal messages. Regarding acoustics, we have shown that temporal predictability strongly modulates statistical learning, especially in neonates. Further, the variability of speech signals must also be accounted for to parse speech successfully under natural circumstances. Looking at the cognitive aspects of language learning, it is debated whether the role of statistical learning is restricted to pattern detection or it is part of a wider function that allows one to learn generalizable rules or even model the whole communicative scene by finding the causes of the incoming stimulation (i.e., the actors and their interactions). Finally, while statistical learning is regarded as a domain-general function, one may ask whether it also has some features specifically boosting language learning. Here we address these questions in newborn infants using electrophysiological measures. We hypothesize that statistical learning is both modulated and supplemented by other factors in infantile language acquisition. The experiments test three such factors: a) temporal predictability, b) rule learning, and c) causal modeling (hidden prototypes and communicative interactions). In addition to these questions, multiple experiments address the issue of whether statistical learning involves potentially innate features geared towards language acquisition. Potential effects of linguistic rhythm on statistical learning and asymmetry in the direction of rule transfer between verbal and linguistic sequences would support the notion of statistical learning having language-specific features.
Required language skills: English Number of students who can be accepted: 1
Deadline for application: 2024-05-31
2024. IV. 17. ODT ülés Az ODT következő ülésére 2024. június 14-én, pénteken 10.00 órakor kerül sor a Semmelweis Egyetem Szenátusi termében (Bp. Üllői út 26. I. emelet).
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