Predictive language processing: integrating comprehension and production, and what atypical populations can tell us

Abstract

Predictive processing, a crucial aspect of human cognition, is also relevant for language comprehension. In everyday situations, we exploit various sources of information to anticipate and therefore facilitate processing of upcoming linguistic input. In the literature, there are a variety of models that aim at accounting for such ability. One group of models propose a strict relationship between prediction and language production mechanisms. In this review, we first introduce very briefly the concept of predictive processing during language comprehension. Secondly, we focus on models that attribute a prominent role to language production and sensorimotor processing in language prediction (“prediction-by-production” models). Contextually, we provide a summary of studies that investigated the role of speech production and auditory perception on language comprehension/prediction tasks in healthy, typical participants. Then, we provide an overview of the limited existing literature on specific atypical/clinical populations that may represent suitable testing ground for such models–i.e., populations with impaired speech production and auditory perception mechanisms. Ultimately, we suggest a more widely and in-depth testing of prediction-by-production accounts, and the involvement of atypical populations both for model testing and as targets for possible novel speech/language treatment approaches.

Cortical tracking of speech is reduced in adults who stutter when listening for speaking

“…This is in line with the results reported in Gastaldon et al (2023): AWS seem less efficient at generating predictions during listening, hypothesized as a result of the inability to fully exploit their speech-motor network. Thus, further studies should investigate whether there is a causal link between CTS and specific processes of speech comprehension such as prediction, and how this causal chain may impact people with different speech and language deficits, especially in interactive contexts (see also Gastaldon et al, 2024 on the importance of studying atypical populations for a better understanding of predictive speech processing). In conclusion, research should move towards turn-based and conversational contexts (e.g., Jackson et al, 2021; Weiss, 1995) to investigate possible subtle differences in how spoken language comprehension is achieved in the stuttering brain.…”