Parental Social and Musical Characteristics, the Home Music Environment, and Child Language Development in Infancy

Infancy, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 30(2)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Parents use music, especially singing, to interact with their young children, supporting parent‐child bonding and social communication. Little is known about the parental attributes that support musical interactions infants. In this exploratory study, we analyzed self‐report data from 43 caregiver/infant dyads at up four time points (9, 12, 15, 18 months) assess parent motivation training as predictors of home music environment overall, beliefs in benefits music. We also investigated a predictor language development longitudinally. Parent was stronger than training. Parents' positively related beliefs, overall environment, while only beliefs. Furthermore, singing but not were associated infants' vocabulary comprehension, production, gestures. Results highlight engagement early childhood fundamentally experience emphasize importance parents' active participation (vs. beliefs) experiences infant. The nature infancy may contribute relationships between child development.

Language: Английский

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Utilising Non‐Nutritive Sucking in Developmental Language Research: Past, Current and Future

Infant and Child Development, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(2)

Published: March 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Studying early language development has been a challenging task throughout the years. Earlier studies mostly documented competence only after toddlers had started producing their first words. Theoretical and methodological advances in this domain brought about more sophisticated ways of probing into by exploiting overt infant behaviour. One such method is based on so‐called non‐nutritive sucking (NNS), namely that infants spontaneously produce rhythmic mouth movements absence receiving nutrition. This behaviour used to investigate infants' preference discriminatory abilities means high‐amplitude sucking‐procedure (HAS), which initially was one few gain insight young processing. Here, described, some key findings are highlighted together with overarching trends. Over last decades, however, popularity declining, potential reasons for decline discussed. Next, method's relevance contemporary research discussed advocating shift from using NNS as an indirect measure processing towards focusing speech production. seen light growing literature neural synchronisation role auditory‐motor coupling perception.

Language: Английский

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Cortical tracking of visual rhythmic speech by 5‐ and 8‐month‐old infants: Individual differences in phase angle relate to language outcomes up to 2 years

Developmental Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 27(4)

Published: March 14, 2024

Abstract It is known that the rhythms of speech are visible on face, accurately mirroring changes in vocal tract. These low‐frequency visual temporal movements tightly correlated with output, and both (e.g., mouth motion) acoustic amplitude envelope entrain neural oscillations. Low‐frequency information (‘visual prosody’) from behavioural studies to be perceived by infants, but oscillatory currently lacking. Here we measure cortical tracking 5‐ 8‐month‐old infants using a rhythmic paradigm (repetition syllable ‘ta’ at 2 Hz). Eye‐tracking data were collected simultaneously EEG, enabling computation phase angle during visual‐only presentation. Significantly higher power stimulus frequency indicated occurred across ages. Further, individual differences preferred related subsequent measures language acquisition. The difference between same presented as auditory‐visual 6‐ 9‐months was also examined. suggest early acquisition may entrainment input infancy. Research Highlights Infant predicts outcomes. Significant present 5 8 months. Phase months predicted greater receptive productive vocabulary 24

Language: Английский

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Contingency and synchrony: interactional pathways towards attentional control and intentional communication

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

In this article we examine how contingency and synchrony during infant-caregiver interaction helps children to learn pay attention objects; this, in turn, affects their ability direct caregivers’ attention, track communicative intentions others. First, present evidence that, early life, child-caregiver interactions are asymmetric. Caregivers dynamically contingently adapt child more than the other way around, providing higher-order semantic contextual cues episodes which facilitate development of specialised integrated attentional brain networks infant brain. Then, describe social also facilitates child’s predictive models; and, through goal-directed behaviour. Finally, discuss behaviour can drive children's voluntarily; paves for intentional communication.

Language: Английский

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The effect of visual speech cues on neural tracking of speech in 10‐month‐old infants

European Journal of Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(6), P. 5381 - 5399

Published: Aug. 27, 2024

Abstract While infants' sensitivity to visual speech cues and the benefit of these have been well‐established by behavioural studies, there is little evidence on effect neural processing continuous auditory speech. In this study, we investigated whether cues, such as movements lips, jaw, larynx, facilitate tracking. Ten‐month‐old Dutch‐learning infants watched videos a speaker reciting passages in infant‐directed while electroencephalography (EEG) was recorded. videos, either full face displayed or speaker's mouth jaw were masked with block, obstructing cues. To assess tracking, speech‐brain coherence (SBC) calculated, focusing particularly stress syllabic rates (1–1.75 2.5–3.5 Hz respectively our stimuli). First, overall, SBC compared surrogate data, then, differences two conditions tested at frequencies interest. Our results indicated that show significant tracking both rates. However, no identified between conditions, meaning not modulated further presence Furthermore, demonstrated low‐frequency information related their subsequent vocabulary development 18 months. Overall, study provides necessarily impaired when are fully visible may be potential mechanism successful language acquisition.

Language: Английский

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Foraging and inertia: understanding the developmental dynamics of overt visual attention

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 105991 - 105991

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Examining speech-brain tracking during early bidirectional, free-flowing caregiver-infant interactions

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 17, 2024

Abstract Neural entrainment to slow modulations in the amplitude envelope of infant-directed speech is thought drive early language learning. Most previous research with infants examining speech-brain tracking has been conducted controlled, experimental settings, which are far from complex environments everyday interactions. Whilst recent work begun investigate naturalistic speech, this semi-structured paradigms, where listen live adult speakers, without engaging free-flowing social Here, we test applicability mTRF modelling measure and bidirectional free-play interactions 9-12-month-olds their caregivers. Using a backwards approach, individual generic training procedures, examine effects data quantity quality on model fitting. We show fitting most optimal using an trained continuous segments interaction data. Corresponding findings, models showed significant at delta modulation frequencies, but not alpha theta bands. These findings open new methods for studying interpersonal micro-processes that support In future work, it will be important develop mechanistic framework understanding how our brains track during infancy.

Language: Английский

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Infant low-frequency EEG cortical power, cortical tracking and phase-amplitude coupling predicts language a year later

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 19(12), P. e0313274 - e0313274

Published: Dec. 5, 2024

Cortical signals have been shown to track acoustic and linguistic properties of continuous speech. This phenomenon has measured in both children adults, reflecting speech understanding by adults as well cognitive functions such attention prediction. Furthermore, atypical low-frequency cortical tracking is found with phonological difficulties (developmental dyslexia). Accordingly, may play a critical role language acquisition. A recent investigation infants Attaheri et al., 2022 [1] probed mechanisms at the ages 4, 7 11 months participants listened sung Results from temporal response function (TRF), phase-amplitude coupling (PAC) dynamic theta-delta power (PSD) analyses indicated envelope stimulus-related for delta theta neural signals. delta- theta-driven PAC was all ages, phases displaying stronger high-frequency amplitudes than delta. The present study tests whether these previous findings replicate second half full cohort (N = 122) who were participating this longitudinal (first half: N 61, (1); 61). In addition demonstrating good replication, we investigate first year life predicts later acquisition (122 recruited, 113 retained) using infant-led parent-estimated measures multivariate univariate analyses. Increased analyses, increased ~2Hz PSD theta-gamma related better outcomes measures. By contrast, ~4Hz multi-variate delta-beta higher theta/delta ratio worse outcomes. data are interpreted within “Temporal Sampling” framework developmental trajectories.

Language: Английский

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Neural speech tracking in newborns: prenatal learning and contributing factors

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 18, 2024

Abstract Introduction Early language development in infants is being increasingly studied, though only recently with direct measurements of brain activity rather than behavioral or physiological measurements. In the current study, we use electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings 2-week-old to look for signs prenatal learning and investigate newborns’ abilities process language. We also at influence stress factors predictive value processing later development. Methods Sixty pregnant women played a rhyme their abdomen twice day from 34 th week pregnancy until birth, familiarize fetus rhyme. At around 2 weeks after delivery (mean age 16 days), newborns were exposed familiar as well an unfamiliar one while EEG was recorded. Additionally, three manipulations played: (1) low-pass filtered, (2) changed rhythm, (3) inverted backwards. The data analyzed see how infant signal followed speech envelope each condition. Accounting heterogenous approach used neural tracking literature, four methods, namely: coherence, Hilbert temporal response functions (TRF), (4) mutual information (MI). maternal depression evaluated Edinburgh Prenatal Depression Score chronic fetal measured hair cortisol levels week-olds. 6 months Bayley Scales. Results discussion Overall, results indicate presence learning, eliciting stronger cortical (higher coherence MI) rhyme, which suggests brain-to-speech coupling perhaps deriving more effort unexpected stimulus. However, original version proved be easiest track compared language- rhythm-manipulations, MI manipulation higher mTRF correlation coefficients rhythm manipulation). This indicates discrimination prosodic-based Furthermore, there indication phonotactic sensitivity this young age, less (lower lower coefficients) filtered version, indicating that phonological cues erased by filtering important newborn’s ability follow mothers’ scores positively correlated infant’s slightly mood stimulative levels, however, negatively abilities. Importantly, underlining early assessment processing. Conclusion established, but evidence including (healthy) first life scarce. study shows can discriminate between highlighting role prosody processing, bringing new auditory stimuli. months. further increased moderately low mood, decreased stress. Future studies similar fine-grained linguistic designs older should teach us timeline what exactly learned prenatally very respect

Language: Английский

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Neural Speech Tracking in Newborns: Prenatal Learning and Contributing Factors

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

The current study investigates prenatal learning and language processing in 60 newborns that have been familiarized with a rhyme from the 34th gestational week until birth. At 2 weeks of age, newborns' EEG was recorded as familiar well other rhymes were played. Four analysis methods used compared assessment neural speech tracking: coherence, Hilbert temporal response functions, mutual information. Maternal depression stress during pregnancy fetal chronic assessed.The infants showed learning, higher coherence information unfamiliar than rhyme, suggesting stronger tracking perhaps more effort to process unexpected stimulus. However, original version proved be easiest track language- rhythm-manipulations. This highlights role prosody early brings new evidence sensitivity phonotactic cues. A slightly lower maternal mood positively correlated, while negatively correlated infants' ability for rhyme. Newborns' cortical development at 6 months age.

Language: Английский

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