TY - JOUR

T1 - Neural bases of rapid word learning

AU - Shtyrov, Yury

PY - 2012/8/1

Y1 - 2012/8/1

N2 - Humans are unique in developing large lexicons as their communication tool; to achieve this, they are able to learn new words rapidly. However, neural bases of this rapid learning, which may be an expression of a more general cognitive mechanism likely rooted in plasticity at cellular and synaptic levels, are not yet understood. In this update, the author highlights a selection of recent studies that attempted to trace word learning in the human brain noninvasively. A number of brain areas, most notably in hippocampus and neocortex, appear to take part in word acquisition. Critically, the currently available data not only demonstrate the hippocampal role in rapid encoding followed by slow-rate consolidation of cortical word memory traces but also suggest immediate neocortical involvement in the word memory trace formation. Echoing early behavioral studies in ultra-rapid word learning, the reviewed neuroimaging experiments can be taken to suggest that our brain may effectively form new cortical circuits online, as it gets exposed to novel linguistic patterns in the sensory input.

AB - Humans are unique in developing large lexicons as their communication tool; to achieve this, they are able to learn new words rapidly. However, neural bases of this rapid learning, which may be an expression of a more general cognitive mechanism likely rooted in plasticity at cellular and synaptic levels, are not yet understood. In this update, the author highlights a selection of recent studies that attempted to trace word learning in the human brain noninvasively. A number of brain areas, most notably in hippocampus and neocortex, appear to take part in word acquisition. Critically, the currently available data not only demonstrate the hippocampal role in rapid encoding followed by slow-rate consolidation of cortical word memory traces but also suggest immediate neocortical involvement in the word memory trace formation. Echoing early behavioral studies in ultra-rapid word learning, the reviewed neuroimaging experiments can be taken to suggest that our brain may effectively form new cortical circuits online, as it gets exposed to novel linguistic patterns in the sensory input.

KW - brain

KW - cortex

KW - electroencephalography

KW - event-related potential

KW - fast mapping

KW - functional magnetic resonance imaging

KW - language

KW - lexical memory trace

KW - neuroimaging

KW - positron emission tomography

KW - word

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84864367791&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/1073858411420299

DO - 10.1177/1073858411420299

M3 - Article

C2 - 22020546

AN - SCOPUS:84864367791

VL - 18

SP - 312

EP - 319

JO - Neuroscientist

JF - Neuroscientist

SN - 1073-8584

IS - 4

ER -