A5005367993- Language Development and Disorders
- Reading and Literacy Development
- Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism
- Child and Animal Learning Development
- Language, Metaphor, and Cognition
- Hearing Impairment and Communication
- Action Observation and Synchronization
- Speech and dialogue systems
- Language and cultural evolution
- Second Language Acquisition and Learning
- Topic Modeling
- Hand Gesture Recognition Systems
- Text Readability and Simplification
- Natural Language Processing Techniques
- Education and Critical Thinking Development
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Cognitive Science and Mapping
- Educational Strategies and Epistemologies
- Categorization, perception, and language
- Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare
- Phonetics and Phonology Research
- Multisensory perception and integration
- Cognitive and developmental aspects of mathematical skills
- Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies
Purdue University West Lafayette
2017-2025
Google (United States)
2024
Florida State University
2013-2017
University of California, San Diego
2006-2013
Stanford University
2012
Psychological scientists have become increasingly concerned with issues related to methodology and replicability, infancy researchers in particular face specific challenges replicability: For example, high-powered studies are difficult conduct, testing conditions vary across labs, different labs access infant populations. Addressing these concerns, we report on a large-scale, multisite study aimed at (a) assessing the overall replicability of single theoretically important phenomenon (b)...
Abstract Recent research suggests that infants tend to add words their vocabulary are semantically related other known words, though it is not clear why this pattern emerges. In paper, we explore whether leverage existing and semantic knowledge when interpreting novel label–object mappings in real time. We initially identified categorical domains for which individual 24‐month‐old have relatively higher lower levels of knowledge, irrespective overall size. Next, taught these then asked if...
We investigated the impact of contextual constraint on integration novel word meanings into semantic memory. Adults read strongly or weakly constraining sentences ending in known unknown (novel) words as scalp-recorded electrical brain activity was recorded. Word knowledge assessed via a lexical decision task which recently seen and sentence endings served primes for semantically related, unrelated, synonym/identical target words. As expected, N400 amplitudes to preceded by were reduced...
Sign language comprehension requires visual attention to the linguistic signal and referents in surrounding world, whereas these processes are divided between auditory modalities for spoken comprehension. Additionally, age-onset of first acquisition quality quantity input deaf individuals is highly heterogeneous, which rarely case hearing learners languages. Little known about how modality developmental factors affect real-time lexical processing. In this study, we ask impact recognition...
Much of our basic understanding cognitive and social processes in infancy relies on measures looking time, specifically infants’ visual preference for a novel or familiar stimulus. However, despite being the foundation many behavioral tasks infant research, determinants preferences are poorly understood, differences expression can be difficult to interpret. In this large-scale study, we test predictions from Hunter Ames model infants' preferences. We investigate effects three factors...
Variations in the amount and nature of early language to which children are exposed have been linked their subsequent ability (e.g. Huttenlocher, Haight, Bryk, Seltzer & Lyons, 1991; Hart Risley, 1995). In three computational simulations, we explore how differences linguistic experience can explain word learning due changes development semantic category structure. More specifically, manipulate input, sentential complexity, frequency distribution words within categories. each these...
Although the size of a child's vocabulary associates with language-processing skills, little is understood regarding how this relation emerges. This investigation asks whether and structure knowledge affects language processing in English-learning 24-month-old children (N = 32; 18 F, 14 M). Parental report was used to calculate semantic density several early-acquired categories. Performance on two tasks (lexical recognition sentence processing) compared as function density. In both tasks,...
The mature lexicon encodes semantic relations between words, and these connections can alternately facilitate interfere with language processing. We explore the emergence of processing dynamics in 18-month-olds (N = 79) using a novel approach that calculates individualized structure at multiple granularities participants' productive vocabularies. Participants completed two interleaved eye-tracked word recognition tasks involving semantically unrelated related picture contexts, which sought...
What aspects of word meaning are important in early learning and lexico-semantic network development? Adult systems flexibly encode multiple types semantic features, including functional, perceptual, taxonomic, encyclopedic. However, various theoretical accounts lexical development differ on whether how these properties meanings initially encoded into young children's emerging networks. Whereas some highlight the importance perceptual versus conceptual properties, others posit that thematic...
According to prediction-based learning theories, erroneous predictions support learning. However, empirical evidence for a relation between prediction error and children's language is currently lacking. Here we investigated whether how errors influence of novel words. We hypothesized that word would vary as function 2 factors: the extent which children generate predictions, redirect attention in response errors. Children were tested task, used eye tracking measure (a) real-time semantic...
Children seem able to efficiently interpret a variety of linguistic cues during speech comprehension, yet have difficulty interpreting sources nonlinguistic and paralinguistic information that accompany speech. The current study asked whether (paralinguistic) voice-activated role knowledge is rapidly interpreted in coordination with cue (a sentential action) comprehension an eye-tracked sentence task children (ages 3-10 years) college-aged adults. Participants were initially familiarized 2...
Abstract Due to wide variability of typical language development, it has been historically difficult distinguish and delayed trajectories early growth. Improving our understanding factors that signal disorder delay the potential improve lives millions with developmental (DLD). We develop predictive models low (LL) outcomes by analyzing parental report measures skill using machine learning network science approaches. harmonized two longitudinal datasets including demographic standardized...
Recent studies suggest that language users generate and maintain multiple predictions in parallel, especially tasks explicitly instruct participants to predictions. Here, we investigated the possibility of parallel gradedness linguistic a simple reading task, using new measure—imbalance—that captures probabilistic difference between sentence completions. We focus on prenominal gender-marked articles German obtain prediction-specific effects. Native speakers read predictable or unpredictable...
Speech movements are highly complex and require precise tuning of both spatial timing oral articulators to support intelligible communication. These properties also make measurement speech challenging, often requiring extensive physical sensors placed around the mouth face that not easily tolerated by certain populations such as young children. Recent progress in machine learning-based markerless facial landmark tracking technology demonstrated its potential provide lip without need for...
This study, involving 120 children (Mage = 4.25; SD 0.83; 53% Female, 49% White, 23% multiracial, 16% Black, 9% Asian American, and 3% Latine) their parents, examined parent talk constructs relation to children's early academic skills in 2021. Parents' was best represented as a three-factor structure (general, number, mathematical language), suggesting that language use is distinct from general number talk. Parent factors were related numeracy but not vocabulary or knowledge. Children with...
The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI) are widely used, parent-report instruments of language acquisition. Here, we focus on the word-inventory sections instruments, and show two different approaches to modeling CDI data, based real-world needs. First, that Words & Gestures data collected out-of-range can be robustly adjusted Sentences scores. Second, demonstrate a novel application Gompertz growth curves longitudinal especially when same timepoints were not...
Abstract Prediction error plays a pivotal role in theories of learning, including language acquisition and use. Researchers have investigated whether under which conditions children, like adults, use prediction to facilitate comprehension at different levels linguistic representation. However, many aspects the reciprocal relation between development learning remain unclear. In this article, we review studies that can inform us about updating, retrieving information. We argue study individual...