scholarly journals Domain-general conflict monitoring predicts neural and behavioral indices of linguistic error processing during reading comprehension

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Trevor Brothers ◽  
Margarita Zeitlin ◽  
Arim Choi Perrachione ◽  
Connie Choi ◽  
Gina Kuperberg
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Error Detection ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Error Processing ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Behavioral Measures ◽  
Verbal Knowledge ◽  
Acceptability Judgments

AbstractThe ability to detect and respond to linguistic errors is critical for successful reading comprehension, but these skills can vary considerably across readers. In the current study, healthy adults (age 18-35) read short discourse scenarios for comprehension while monitoring for the presence of semantic anomalies. Using a factor analytic approach, we examined if performance in non-linguistic conflict monitoring tasks (Stroop, AX-CPT) would predict individual differences in neural and behavioral measures of linguistic error processing. Consistent with our hypothesis, domain-general conflict monitoring predicted both readers’ end-of-trial acceptability judgments and the amplitude of a late neural response (the P600) evoked by linguistic anomalies. Interestingly, the influence on the P600 was non-linear, suggesting that online neural responses to linguistic errors are influenced by both the effectiveness and efficiency of domain-general conflict monitoring. These relationships were also highly specific and remained after controlling for variability in working memory capacity and verbal knowledge. Finally, we found that domain-general conflict monitoring also predicted individual variability in measures of reading comprehension, and that this relationship was partially mediated by behavioral measures of linguistic error detection. These findings inform our understanding of the role of domain-general executive functions in reading comprehension, with potential implications for the diagnosis and treatment of language impairments.

scholarly journals Towards an individualised neural assessment of receptive language in children

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene Petit ◽  
Nicholas A. Badcock ◽  
Tijl Grootswagers ◽  
Anina N. Rich ◽  
Jon Brock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Language Comprehension ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Receptive Language ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Grade System ◽  
Neural Responses ◽  
Lexical Semantic ◽  
Research Grade

AbstractPurposeWe aimed to develop a non-invasive neural test of language comprehension to use with non-speaking children for whom standard behavioural testing is unreliable (e.g., minimally-verbal autism). Our aims were three-fold. First, we sought to establish the sensitivity of two auditory paradigms to elicit neural responses in individual neurotypical children. Second, we aimed to validate the use of a portable and accessible electroencephalography (EEG) system, by comparing its recordings to those of a research-grade system. Third, in light of substantial inter-individual variability in individuals’ neural responses, we assessed whether multivariate decoding methods could improve sensitivity.MethodsWe tested the sensitivity of two child-friendly covert N400 paradigms. Thirty-one typically developing children listened to identical spoken words that were either strongly predicted by the preceding context or violated lexical-semantic expectations. Context was given by a cue word (Experiment 1) or sentence frame (Experiment 2) and participants either made an overall judgement on word relatedness or counted lexical-semantic violations. We measured EEG concurrently from a research-grade system, Neuroscan’s SynAmps2, and an adapted gaming system, Emotiv’s EPOC+.ResultsWe found substantial inter-individual variability in the timing and topology of N400-like effects. For both paradigms and EEG systems, traditional N400 effects at the expected sensors and time points were statistically significant in around 50% of individuals. Using multivariate analyses, detection rate increased to 88% of individuals for the research-grade system in the sentences paradigm, illustrating the robustness of this method in the face of inter-individual variations in topography.ConclusionsThere was large inter-individual variability in neural responses, suggesting inter-individual variation in either the cognitive response to lexical-semantic violations, and/or the neural substrate of that response. Around half of our neurotypical participants showed the expected N400 effect at the expected location and time point. A low-cost, accessible EEG system provided comparable data for univariate analysis but was not well suited to multivariate decoding. However, multivariate analyses with a research-grade EEG system increased our detection rate to 88% of individuals. This approach provides a strong foundation to establish a neural index of language comprehension in children with limited communication.

scholarly journals Selective effects of biological and chronological age on the development of cognitive abilities in adolescence

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilona Kovacs ◽  
Kristof Kovacs ◽  
Patricia Gervan ◽  
Katinka Utczas ◽  
Gyongyi Olah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Skeletal Maturity ◽  
Pubertal Timing ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Bone Age ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Biological Age ◽  
Chronological Age ◽  
Biological Maturity

Adolescent development is not only shaped by the mere passing of time and accumulating experience, it also depends on pubertal timing and the cascade of maturational processes orchestrated by gonadal hormones. Although individual variability in puberty onset confounds adolescent studies, it has not been efficiently controlled for. Here we introduce ultrasonic bone age assessment to estimate biological maturity and disentangle the independent effects of chronological and biological age on adolescent cognitive abilities. Comparing cognitive performance of participants with different skeletal maturity we uncover the striking impact of biological age on both IQ and specific abilities. We find that biological age has a selective effect on abilities: more mature individuals within the same age group have higher working memory capacity and processing speed, while those with higher chronological age have better verbal abilities, independently of their maturity. Based on our findings, bone age is a promising biomarker for adolescent research.

scholarly journals Conflict monitoring in speech processing: An fMRI study of error detection in speech production and perception

NeuroImage ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 126 ◽  
pp. 96-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna S. Gauvin ◽  
Wouter De Baene ◽  
Marcel Brass ◽  
Robert J. Hartsuiker
Keyword(s):  
Speech Production ◽  
Error Detection ◽  
Speech Processing ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Fmri Study

scholarly journals Low working memory capacity is only spuriously related to poor reading comprehension

Cognition ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A. Van Dyke ◽  
Clinton L. Johns ◽  
Anuenue Kukona
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Memory Capacity ◽  
Poor Reading
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