Perceptual anchoring as a starting aid for word learning: Combined neural and behavioral measurements
Contact: Dr. Claudia Männel (maennel@cbs.mpg.de), Prof. Dr. Hellmuth Obrig, Dr. Gesa Schaadt
External Cooperation: Vehmeier, B. (HASOMED); Chojecki, P. (Fraunhofer Heinricht-Hertz-Institut (HHI)); Gaebler, M. (MPI); Finke, C. (Charité- Universitätsmedizin Berlin)
Perceptual anchoring is a mechanism of human perception based on repetitions in the learning environment. We investigate whether repeated acoustic patterns (perceptual anchors) support the construction of lexical representations, which in turn facilitate the acquisition of new words as anchors. Developmentally adequate neuroscientific methods are applied, which allow a temporal and spatial analysis of brain reactions for anchor effects. As an external validation these neural measures are related to the subsequent vocabulary of the children. The evaluation of perceptual anchoring as a learning mechanism in acquisition of the mental lexicon will significantly contribute to a better understanding of the enormous learning capacity of children in early language development.
Financing: German Research Foundation (DFG)
