Evidence for Implicit Learning in Syntactic Comprehension. (30th January 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fine, Alex B.; Florian Jaeger, T.
• Is Part Of: Cognitive science. Volume 37:Number 3(2013:Apr.)
• Page Start: 578
• Page End: 591
• Publication Date: 2013-01-30
• Subjects: Cognition -- Periodicals; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; Artificial intelligence -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1111/cogs.12022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0364-0213

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cogs12022-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This study provides evidence for implicit learning in syntactic comprehension. By reanalyzing data from a syntactic priming experiment (Thothathiri &amp; Snedeker, 2008), we find that the error signal associated with a syntactic prime influences comprehenders' subsequent syntactic expectations. This follows directly from error‐based implicit learning accounts of syntactic priming, but it is unexpected under accounts that consider syntactic priming a consequence of temporary increases in base‐level activation. More generally, the results raise questions about the principles underlying the maintenance of implicit statistical knowledge relevant to language processing, and about possible functional motivations for syntactic priming.</p> </abstract>