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Lexical learning shapes the development of speech perception until late adolescence

Research Output:
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Abstract

The role of neurobiologically-constrained critical periods for language learning remains controversial. We provide new evidence for critical periods by examining speech sound processing across the lifespan. We tested perceptual acuity for minimal word-word (e.g. bear-pear), and word-pseudoword (e.g. bag-pag) pairs generated using trial-unique audio morphed speech tokens. Participants (N=1537) performed a 3-interval, 2-alternative forced choice perceptual task indicating which of two cartoon characters said a referent word correctly. We adaptively reduced the contrastive acoustic cues in speech tokens to measure the Proportion of Acoustic Difference Required for Identification (PADRI) at 79.4% correct. Results showed effects of age, lexical context, and language experience on perceptual acuity. However, for native-listeners responding to word-word trials, age-related improvements stopped at 16.7 years. This finding suggests a role for continued lexical experience in shaping perceptual acuity for spoken words until late adolescence consistent with interactive models of speech perception and critical periods

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Output type

Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Original language

English

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

PsyArXiv

Publication milestones

  • Published - 29/01/2019

Publication status

Published - 29/01/2019

Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/625852

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