Implicit manual and oculomotor sequence learning in developmental language disorder

Abstract

Procedural memory functioning in developmental language disorder (DLD) has largely been investigated by examining implicit sequence learning by the manual motor system. This study examined whether poor sequence learning in DLD is present in the oculomotor domain. Twenty children with DLD and 20 age-matched typically developing (TD) children were presented with a serial reaction time (SRT) task. On the task, a visual stimulus repeatedly appears in different positions on a computer display which prompts a manual response. The children were unaware that on the first three blocks and final block of trials, the visual stimulus followed a sequence. On the fourth block, the stimulus appeared in random positions. Manual reaction times (RT) and saccadic amplitudes were recorded, which assessed sequence learning in the manual and oculomotor domains, respectively. Manual RT were sensitive to sequence learning for the TD group, but not the DLD group. For the TD group, manual RT increased when the random block was presented. This was not the case for the DLD group. In the oculomotor domain, sequence learning was present in both groups. Specifically, sequence learning was found to modulate saccadic amplitudes resulting in both DLD and TD children being able to anticipate the location of the visual stimulus. Overall, the study indicates that not all aspects of the procedural memory system are equally impaired in DLD.

Procedural auditory category learning is selectively disrupted in developmental language disorder

“…The impaired learning and selective deficit in II learning in DLD is consistent with previous demonstrations of a procedural learning deficit in DLD, as observed across motor, cognitive, and perceptual domains (Hsu & Bishop, 2014;Lum & Clark, 2022;Lum et al, 2014). These findings are consistent with the Procedural Deficit Hypothesis of developmental language disorders such as DLD (Nicolson & Fawcett, 2011Ullman et al, 2020), and provide additional support as to the existence of multiple memory systems.…”

“…Consistent with both of these theoretical hypotheses, individuals with DLD are impaired on a variety of procedural tasks such as the Serial Reaction Time (Clark & Lum, 2017a, 2017bGabriel et al, 2013;Hedenius et al, 2011;Lum & Clark, 2022;Lum et al, 2014;Lum et al, 2012;Tomblin et al, 2007) and the Artificial Grammar Learning Task (Grunow et al, 2006;Lukács & Kemény, 2014). Individuals with DLD have structural and functional neural differences in core structures of the procedural memory systems such as the basal ganglia and the cerebellum (Badcock et al, 2012;Herbert et al, 2003;Jernigan et al, 1991;Krishnan et al, 2022;Lee et al, 2013Lee et al, , 2020Pigdon et al, 2019).…”

Procedural Auditory Category Learning is Selectively Disrupted in Developmental Language Disorder

“…The impaired learning and selective deficit in II learning in DLD is consistent with previous demonstrations of a procedural learning deficit in DLD, as observed across motor, cognitive, and perceptual domains (Hsu & Bishop, 2014;Lum & Clark, 2022;Lum et al, 2014). These findings are consistent with the Procedural Deficit Hypothesis of developmental language disorders such as DLD (Nicolson & Fawcett, 2011Ullman et al, 2020;Ullman & Pullman, 2015), and provide additional support as to the existence of multiple memory systems.…”

“…Consistent with both of these theoretical hypotheses, individuals with DLD are impaired on a variety of procedural tasks such as the Serial Reaction Time Task (Clark & Lum, 2017a, 2017bGabriel et al, 2013;Hedenius et al, 2011;Lum & Clark, 2022;Lum et al, 2014;Lum et al, 2012;Tomblin et al, 2007) and Artificial Grammar Learning Task (Grunow et al, 2006;Lukács & Kemény, 2014). Individuals with DLD have structural and functional neural differences in core structures of the procedural memory systems such as the basal ganglia and the cerebellum (Badcock et al, 2012;Herbert et al, 2003;Jernigan et al, 1991;Krishnan et al, 2022;Lee et al, 2013Lee et al, , 2020Pigdon et al, 2019).…”