No neural evidence of statistical learning during exposure to artificial languages in children with autism spectrum disorders.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Language delay is a hallmark feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The identification of word boundaries in continuous speech is a critical first step in language acquisition that can be accomplished via statistical learning and reliance on speech cues. Importantly, early word segmentation skills have been shown to predict later language development in typically developing (TD) children.

Methods

Here we investigated the neural correlates of online word segmentation in children with and without ASD with a well-established behavioral paradigm previously validated for functional magnetic resonance imaging. Eighteen high-functioning boys with ASD and 18 age- and IQ-matched TD boys underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while listening to two artificial

SUBMITTER: Scott-Van Zeeland AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3229830 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature