Rapid and automatic speech-specific learning mechanism in human neocortex

• Published in: NeuroImage (Orlando, Fla.) Vol. 118; pp. 282 - 291
• Main Authors: Kimppa, Lilli, Kujala, Teija, Leminen, Alina, Vainio, Martti, Shtyrov, Yury
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2015; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Attention - physiology; Brain; Communication; Electroencephalography; Event-related potentials; Female; Frontal Lobe - physiology; Humans; Language learning; Learning - physiology; Listening; Male; Memory; Mental Recall - physiology; Neocortex - physiology; Plasticity; Recall; Recognition (Psychology) - physiology; Speech; Speech Perception - physiology; Studies; Temporal Lobe - physiology; Young Adult; Event-related potentials; Speech; Electroencephalography; Language learning; Plasticity
• ISSN: 1053-8119; 1095-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.05.098

A unique feature of human communication system is our ability to rapidly acquire new words and build large vocabularies. However, its neurobiological foundations remain largely unknown. In an electrophysiological study optimally designed to probe this rapid formation of new word memory circuits, we employed acoustically controlled novel word-forms incorporating native and non-native speech sounds, while manipulating the subjects' attention on the input. We found a robust index of neurolexical memory-trace formation: a rapid enhancement of the brain's activation elicited by novel words during a short (~30min) perceptual exposure, underpinned by fronto-temporal cortical networks, and, importantly, correlated with behavioural learning outcomes. Crucially, this neural memory trace build-up took place regardless of focused attention on the input or any pre-existing or learnt semantics. Furthermore, it was found only for stimuli with native-language phonology, but not for acoustically closely matching non-native words. These findings demonstrate a specialised cortical mechanism for rapid, automatic and phonology-dependent formation of neural word memory circuits. •We report a robust neurophysiological index of memory-trace formation for novel words.•Short perceptual exposure produces a rapid increase in word-elicited brain activation.•This neural learning occurs automatically, irrespective of attention allocation.•This automatic mechanism works for native language but not for unfamiliar phonology.•Such rapid word learning is underpinned by left fronto-temporal cortical networks.