Metrical Presentation Boosts Implicit Learning of Artificial Grammar

Abstract

The present study investigated whether a temporal hierarchical structure favors implicit learning. An artificial pitch grammar implemented with a set of tones was presented in two different temporal contexts, notably with either a strongly metrical structure or an isochronous structure. According to the Dynamic Attending Theory, external temporal regularities can entrain internal oscillators that guide attention over time, allowing for temporal expectations that influence perception of future events. Based on this framework, it was hypothesized that the metrical structure provides a benefit for artificial grammar learning in comparison to an isochronous presentation. Our study combined behavioral and event-related potential measurements. Behavioral results demonstrated similar learning in both participant groups. By contrast, analyses of event-related potentials showed a larger P300 component and an earlier N2 component for the strongly metrical group during the exposure phase and the test phase, respectively. These findings suggests that the temporal expectations in the strongly metrical condition helped listeners to better process the pitch dimension, leading to improved learning of the artificial grammar.

Temporal regularities allow saving time for maintenance in working memory

“…, the first attempt to investigate whether an internal process—such as refreshing—can benefit from temporal regularities presented during the maintenance period. Previous studies have instead focused on the effect of temporal regularities on improvement of the processing of an external event . Our findings showed that the presence of temporal regularities during maintenance enhances memory performance.…”

“…More specifically, the rhythm and timing of the item presentation is crucial for memory of spoken sequences as highlighted by the enhancement of recall performance when spoken sequences of digits are regularly grouped compared to an irregular grouping . Previously observed improvement of the learning of verbal or musical material presented regularly rather than irregularly can also strengthen the proposal of a central role of temporal structures during encoding . Focusing on how the to‐be‐learned material is presented in time, the bottom‐up multiscale population oscillators (BUMP) proposed a bottom‐up mechanism to account for the role of the temporal context at encoding of items.…”

“…In contrast, the potential features that might improve WM performance have received little attention. Music cognition research highlights the benefit of temporal regularities for various cognitive processes, including perception, language processing, and learning . In relation to WM, improved memory performance has recently been reported in the presence of a regular sound during the interval of maintenance in comparison with a silent condition (a benefit that was not observed for an irregular sound condition) .…”

Perspectives on the rhythm–grammar link and its implications for typical and atypical language development

“…Previous studies of syntax in language and music have focused on shared resources for harmonic (musical syntax) processing, which is also organized into rule-based hierarchies. 57,77 Correlational data suggest that musician children outperform their non-musician peers on morphological rule formation 78 and detection of syntactic incongruities. 56 Future studies using random assignment to music training, and specifically investigating the improvement of rhythm skills as a mediating mechanism, are necessary to evaluate a causal influence of rhythm on grammar outcomes in children with typical and atypical language development.…”

Language play facilitates language learning: Optimizing the input for gender-like category induction

“…We have already pointed out that it would be worthwhile to assess different implementations of input optimization using rhyme. Another relevant parameter of input optimization that we did not manipulate systematically in our study is rhythm (see Selchenkova et al, 2014 ). Rhythm naturally accompanies rhyming and melodic structures.…”