Schedule of Events | Symposia

The Language-Specific Neural Basis of Word Learning from Context

Poster Session E - Monday, March 31, 2025, 2:30 – 4:30 pm EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Tengwen Fan¹ (tfan1@lsu.edu), Julie Schneider²; ¹Louisiana State University, ²University of California, Los Angeles

Word learning (WL) from context relies on the activation of brain regions typically associated with language processing. The overlapping neural activation between WL and language processing might suggest a level of neural efficiency where the brain repurposes existing circuits for new learning, explaining rapid vocabulary acquisition. By examining these overlaps, the current study explores how the brain supports both the acquisition and use of language, aiding both theoretical advancements and practical applications. Eighteen adults completed an auditory WL task (Momsen et al., 2022) and auditory language localizer task (Scott et al., 2016) in the MRI scanner. Using a Group-Constrained Subject-Specific (GCSS) analysis, we identified subject-specific brain networks underlying WL and language processing. The left Inferior Frontal Gyrus (LIFG), Frontal Orbital Cortex (LOFC), Precentral Gyrus (LPC), Supramarginal Gyrus (LSMG), bilateral Superior Frontal Gyrus (SFG), Frontal Pole (FP) and the Cingulate Gyrus (CG) were engaged during WL, and the bilateral temporal lobe (superior, middle and inferior), LOFC, left Pre- and bilateral Post-Central Gyrus, LIFG, left FP, right SMG and bilateral Cerebellum were engaged during language processing. Using Local Pattern Similarity Analysis (LPSA) within these language specific regions, we found positive cross-task correlations in the LIFG (t(14) = 2.68, p = 0.02) and right Cerebellum (t(14) = 2.12, p = 0.05). These findings are the first to define the auditory WL network in individual brains and suggest that existing language circuits in the LIFG and the right Cerebellum are integral for successful WL, facilitating rapid vocabulary acquisition.

Topic Area: LANGUAGE: Semantic