Neural correlates of infant accent discrimination: an fNIRS study. Issue 4 (13th March 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cristia, Alejandrina; Minagawa‐Kawai, Yasuyo; Egorova, Natalia; Gervain, Judit; Filippin, Luca; Cabrol, Dominique; Dupoux, Emmanuel
• Is Part Of: Developmental science. Volume 17:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 628
• Page End: 635
• Publication Date: 2014-03-13
• Subjects: Developmental psychology -- Periodicals; Psychology, Comparative -- Periodicals; 155
• DOI: 10.1111/desc.12160
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1363-755X

Abstract

Abstract: The present study investigated the neural correlates of infant discrimination of very similar linguistic varieties (Quebecois and Parisian French) using functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy. In line with previous behavioral and electrophysiological data, there was no evidence that 3‐month‐olds discriminated the two regional accents, whereas 5‐month‐olds did, with the locus of discrimination in left anterior perisylvian regions. These neuroimaging results suggest that a developing language network relying crucially on left perisylvian cortices sustains infants' discrimination of similar linguistic varieties within this early period of infancy. Abstract : The present study investigated the neural correlates of infant discrimination of very similar linguistic varieties (Quebecois and Parisian French) using functional Near InfraRed Spectroscopy. In line with previous behavioral and electrophysiological data, there was no evidence that 3‐month‐olds discriminated the two regional accents, whereas 5‐month‐olds did, with the locus of discrimination in left anterior perisylvian regions.