Abstract In vivo mapping of the neurite density with diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a high but challenging aim. First, it unknown whether all neurites exhibit completely anisotropic (“stick‐like”) diffusion. Second, “density” tissue components may be confounded by non‐diffusion properties such as T2 relaxation. Third, domain validity for estimated parameters to serve indices incompletely explored. We investigated these challenges acquiring data “b‐tensor encoding” and multiple echo times in brain...

The present study investigated the relationship between linguistic tone processing and cortical thickness of bilateral planum temporale (PT) pars opercularis inferior frontal gyrus (IFGpo). Swedish tones on word stems function as cues to upcoming endings. Correlating structural brain imaging data with participants' response time patterns for suffixes, we found that thicker cortex in left PT was associated greater reliance anticipate inflections real words. On inflected pseudoword stems,...

When engaged in dynamic or continuous movements, action initiation involves modifying an ongoing motor program rather than initiating it from rest. Event-related theta synchronization over sensorimotor areas is a neurophysiological marker for programs. We used electroencephalography (EEG) to examine how task complexity and age affect event-related (ERS) the band during bimanual, visuomotor pinch force task. Older (mean = 68) younger 26) participants performed symmetric (SYM) asymmetric...

Probabilistic motor sequence learning research has been primarily concerned with simple frequentist patterns and not probabilistic systems. In this study, we add a system biased distributional weights using novel paradigm that combines methods from neuroscience neurolinguistics. Two groups of participants (ages 20-30) practiced serial reaction time task (SRTT) for three consecutive days, where sequences were generated two versions finite-state grammar (FSG). The FSG existed as version...

Many complex motor skills follow probabilistic rules that determine which movement transitions are efficient, stylistically appropriate, and contextually purposeful. However, research on sequence learning has largely focused deterministic sequences or basic regularities, overlooking the acquisition of broader rule-based structures. In contrast, fields such as psycholinguistics emphasize entire rule systems. This difference in focus limits comparability results from tasks across scientific...

According to most models of spoken word recognition, listeners probabilistically activate a set lexical candidates, which is incrementally updated as the speech signal unfolds. Speech carries segmental (speech sound) well suprasegmental (prosodic) information. The role latter in recognition less clear. We investigated how suprasegments (tone and voice quality) three North Germanic language varieties affected access by scrutinizing temporally fine-grained neurophysiological effects...

The present electrophysiological study investigated irregular versus regular verb form processing in Swedish during reading. In line with previous results from other languages, overregularized verbs, i.e. incorrect stem + past tense suffix combinations (e.g. *stjäl de 'steal tense'), elicited a left-lateralized negativity (LAN) relative to correct irregulars (stal 'stole'), suggesting rule-based decomposition of regularly inflected words. Lack similar effect for misapplication the formation...

Abstract People learn new languages with varying degrees of success but what are the neuroanatomical correlates difference in language‐learning aptitude? In this study, we set out to investigate how differences cortical morphology and white matter microstructure correlate aptitudes for vocabulary learning, phonetic memory, grammatical inferencing as measured by first‐language neutral LLAMA test battery. We used ultra‐high field (7T) magnetic resonance imaging estimate thickness surface area...

Aptitude for and proficiency in acquiring new languages varies the human population but their neural bases are largely unknown. We investigated influence of cortical thickness on language learning predictors measured by LLAMA tests a pitch-change discrimination test. The first language-independent assessments aptitude vocabulary, phonetic working memory, sound-symbol correspondence (not used this study), grammatical inferencing. Pitch perception is known to predict phonology. Results show...

Lack of methods to experimentally assess the perceptual processing sound features and allow one measure differences in phonological proficiency has been a limitation for speech studies native speakers. Tonal associated with Swedish word-stems, word accents, which cue grammatical suffixes, constitute, however, such that can be exploited generate measures reliance on morphosyntactically relevant information during processing. Specifically, there is natural variance between speakers response...

Manual motor performance declines with age, but the extent to which age influences acquisition of new skills remains a topic debate. Here, we examined whether older healthy adults show less training-dependent improvements during single session bimanual pinch task than younger adults. We also explored physical and cognitive factors, such as grip strength or motor-cognitive ability, are associated improvements. Healthy ( n = 16) 20) performed three training blocks separated by short breaks....

Childhood is a period of extensive cortical and neural development. Among other things, axons in the brain gradually become more myelinated, promoting propagation electrical signals between different parts brain, which turn may facilitate skill Myelin difficult to assess vivo, measurement techniques are only just beginning make their way into standard imaging protocols human cognitive neuroscience. An approach that has been proposed as an indirect measure myelin T1w/T2w ratio, contrast based...

At field strengths of 7 T and above, T1-weighted imaging human brain suffers increasingly from radiofrequency (RF) B1 inhomogeneities. The well-known MP2RAGE (magnetization prepared two rapid acquisition gradient echoes) sequence provides a solution but may not be readily available for all MR systems. Here, we describe the implementation evaluation sequential protocol to obtain normalized magnetization echo (MPRAGE) images at 0.7, 0.8, or 0.9-mm isotropic spatial resolution. Optimization...

In vivo mapping of the neurite density with diffusion MRI (dMRI) is a high but challenging aim. First, it unknown whether all neurites exhibit completely anisotropic ('stick-like') diffusion. Second, 'density' tissue components may be confounded by non-diffusion properties such as T2 relaxation. Third, domain validity for estimated parameters to serve indices incompletely explored. We investigated these challenges acquiring data 'b-tensor encoding' and multiple echo times in both healthy...