Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability

James Bartolotti; Viorica Marian; Scott R. Schroeder; Anthony Shook

Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability

James Bartolotti, Viorica Marian, Scott R. Schroeder, Anthony Shook

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

We examine the influence of bilingualism and inhibitory control on the ability to learn a novel language. Using a statistical learning paradigm, participants learned transitional probabilities in two novel languages based on the International Morse Code. First, participants listened to a low-interference language to test word segmentation skill. Next, participants listened to a high-interference language, in which a colliding cue to word boundaries in the form of compressed pauses between words conflicted with the language’s transitional probabilities. Results suggest that high proficiency in a second language can improve word learning in a novel language, but when interference during learning is high, language experience no longer confers a benefit and strong inhibitory control ability is necessary for learning to occur.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011
Editors	Laura Carlson, Christoph Hoelscher, Thomas F. Shipley
Publisher	The Cognitive Science Society
Pages	885-890
Number of pages	6
ISBN (Electronic)	9780976831877
State	Published - 2011
Externally published	Yes
Event	33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science, CogSci 2011 - Boston, United States Duration: Jul 20 2011 → Jul 23 2011

Publication series

Name	Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011

Conference

Conference	33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science, CogSci 2011
Country/Territory	United States
City	Boston
Period	7/20/11 → 7/23/11

Funding

This research was funded in part by grants NICHD 1R01HD059858 and NSF BCS-0418495 o hte teconsd author. The authors would like to acknowledge Sarah Chabal, Jen Krizman, Natalia Daniel, and Vivian Chang for comments on an earlier draft of this paper.

Keywords

bilingualism
language acquisition
pattern recognition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Artificial Intelligence
Computer Science Applications
Human-Computer Interaction
Cognitive Neuroscience

Cite this

Bartolotti, J., Marian, V., Schroeder, S. R., & Shook, A. (2011). Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability. In L. Carlson, C. Hoelscher, & T. F. Shipley (Eds.), Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011 (pp. 885-890). (Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011). The Cognitive Science Society.

Bartolotti, James ; Marian, Viorica ; Schroeder, Scott R. et al. / Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability. Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011. editor / Laura Carlson ; Christoph Hoelscher ; Thomas F. Shipley. The Cognitive Science Society, 2011. pp. 885-890 (Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011).

@inproceedings{dc951d009b6a4c07a8ed08ec0361aa3b,

title = "Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability",

abstract = "We examine the influence of bilingualism and inhibitory control on the ability to learn a novel language. Using a statistical learning paradigm, participants learned transitional probabilities in two novel languages based on the International Morse Code. First, participants listened to a low-interference language to test word segmentation skill. Next, participants listened to a high-interference language, in which a colliding cue to word boundaries in the form of compressed pauses between words conflicted with the language{\textquoteright}s transitional probabilities. Results suggest that high proficiency in a second language can improve word learning in a novel language, but when interference during learning is high, language experience no longer confers a benefit and strong inhibitory control ability is necessary for learning to occur.",

keywords = "bilingualism, language acquisition, pattern recognition",

author = "James Bartolotti and Viorica Marian and Schroeder, {Scott R.} and Anthony Shook",

note = "Funding Information: This research was funded in part by grants NICHD 1R01HD059858 and NSF BCS-0418495 o hte teconsd author. The authors would like to acknowledge Sarah Chabal, Jen Krizman, Natalia Daniel, and Vivian Chang for comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} CogSci 2011.; 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science, CogSci 2011 ; Conference date: 20-07-2011 Through 23-07-2011",

year = "2011",

language = "English (US)",

series = "Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011",

publisher = "The Cognitive Science Society",

pages = "885--890",

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Bartolotti, J, Marian, V, Schroeder, SR & Shook, A 2011, Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability. in L Carlson, C Hoelscher & TF Shipley (eds), Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011. Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011, The Cognitive Science Society, pp. 885-890, 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science, CogSci 2011, Boston, United States, 7/20/11.

Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability. / Bartolotti, James; Marian, Viorica; Schroeder, Scott R. et al.
Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011. ed. / Laura Carlson; Christoph Hoelscher; Thomas F. Shipley. The Cognitive Science Society, 2011. p. 885-890 (Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded in part by grants NICHD 1R01HD059858 and NSF BCS-0418495 o hte teconsd author. The authors would like to acknowledge Sarah Chabal, Jen Krizman, Natalia Daniel, and Vivian Chang for comments on an earlier draft of this paper. Publisher Copyright: © CogSci 2011.

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N2 - We examine the influence of bilingualism and inhibitory control on the ability to learn a novel language. Using a statistical learning paradigm, participants learned transitional probabilities in two novel languages based on the International Morse Code. First, participants listened to a low-interference language to test word segmentation skill. Next, participants listened to a high-interference language, in which a colliding cue to word boundaries in the form of compressed pauses between words conflicted with the language’s transitional probabilities. Results suggest that high proficiency in a second language can improve word learning in a novel language, but when interference during learning is high, language experience no longer confers a benefit and strong inhibitory control ability is necessary for learning to occur.

AB - We examine the influence of bilingualism and inhibitory control on the ability to learn a novel language. Using a statistical learning paradigm, participants learned transitional probabilities in two novel languages based on the International Morse Code. First, participants listened to a low-interference language to test word segmentation skill. Next, participants listened to a high-interference language, in which a colliding cue to word boundaries in the form of compressed pauses between words conflicted with the language’s transitional probabilities. Results suggest that high proficiency in a second language can improve word learning in a novel language, but when interference during learning is high, language experience no longer confers a benefit and strong inhibitory control ability is necessary for learning to occur.

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Bartolotti J, Marian V, Schroeder SR, Shook A. Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability. In Carlson L, Hoelscher C, Shipley TF, editors, Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011. The Cognitive Science Society. 2011. p. 885-890. (Expanding the Space of Cognitive Science - Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2011).

Statistical Learning of a Morse Code Language is Improved by Bilingualism and Inhibitory Ability

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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