Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
08:05
Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques
Published on: June 30, 2020
Statistical learning in a natural language by 8-month-old infants
Bruna Pelucchi1, Jessica F Hay, Jenny R Saffran
1Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1500 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705, USA. plb@unife.it
Child Development
|June 4, 2009
Summary
Infants use statistical learning to understand language. This study shows 8-month-olds can track probabilities in unfamiliar natural speech, supporting robust real-world language acquisition.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Linguistics
Background:
- Infants possess statistical language learning mechanisms.
- Evidence primarily from artificial languages and simplified syllables.
- Limited understanding of scaling to natural language.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate infants' ability to track transitional probabilities in natural speech.
- Determine if statistical learning applies to unfamiliar, fluent languages.
- Assess the robustness of statistical learning in real-world language acquisition.
Main Methods:
- Tested 8-month-old English-learning infants (N=72).
- Utilized fluent, infant-directed Italian speech stimuli.
- Analyzed infants' sensitivity to transitional probability cues.
Main Results:
- Infants demonstrated sensitivity to transitional probability cues.
- Results observed in unfamiliar natural language stimuli.
- Statistical learning mechanisms are robust for natural language.
Conclusions:
- Infants' statistical learning extends to natural language.
- Transitional probabilities are key cues in early language acquisition.
- Statistical learning robustly supports real-world language acquisition.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:22Language Development
Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
The critical period for language acquisition suggests that the ability to acquire language is at its peak early in life. As people age, this proficiency decreases. Language development begins very...
01:21The Nativist Approach
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
01:27Language and Cognition
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
01:18Introduction to Learning
Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skills through practice or experience, leading to long-lasting behavioral changes. This acquisition occurs through interaction with the environment and requires practice or experience. For instance, mastering a skill such as surfing requires considerable practice and experience, highlighting the essential role of repeated interactions with the environment in learning.
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...
In contrast to learned behaviors, unlearned behaviors such as crying, sexual...
01:12Observational Learning
Albert Bandura's observational learning, also known as imitation or modeling, occurs when a person observes and imitates another's behavior. It is a quicker process than operant conditioning. A well-known example is the Bobo doll study, where children who saw an adult acting aggressively towards the doll were more likely to act aggressively when left alone, compared to those who observed a nonaggressive adult. Many psychologists view observational learning as a form of latent learning because...
01:27Associative Learning
Associative learning is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology, wherein a connection is established between two stimuli or events, leading to a learned response. This process is critical in understanding how behaviors are acquired and modified. Conditioning, the mechanism through which associations are formed, can be divided into two main types: classical conditioning and operant conditioning, each elucidating different aspects of associative learning.
Classical conditioning, also known...
Classical conditioning, also known...