Neural and behavioural consequences of vocabulary acquisition: an interdisciplinary approach
Lead Research Organisation:
University of York
Department Name: Psychology
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Gareth Gaskell (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Brown H
(2014)
The time-course of talker-specificity and lexical competition effects during word learning
in Language, Cognition and Neuroscience
Davis MH
(2009)
Learning and consolidation of novel spoken words.
in Journal of cognitive neuroscience
Davis MH
(2009)
A complementary systems account of word learning: neural and behavioural evidence.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Dumay N
(2012)
Overnight lexical consolidation revealed by speech segmentation.
in Cognition
Gaskell MG
(2008)
The impact of strong assimilation on the perception of connected speech.
in Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance
Gaskell MG
(2009)
Word learning and lexical development across the lifespan.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Lindsay S
(2010)
A Complementary Systems Account of Word Learning in L1 and L2 Learning Words in L1 and L2
in Language Learning
Lindsay S
(2013)
Lexical integration of novel words without sleep.
in Journal of experimental psychology. Learning, memory, and cognition
Lindsay S
(2012)
Acquiring novel words and their past tenses: Evidence from lexical effects on phonetic categorisation
in Journal of Memory and Language
Rodd JM
(2012)
Learning new meanings for old words: effects of semantic relatedness.
in Memory & cognition
| Description | The research provided strong evidence for a causal link between sleep and the acquisition of new vocabulary. In particular, deep sleep and sleep "spindles" were found to be associated with the strengthening of memory for newly learned words. At the same time, sleep was not seen to be a necessary condition for making new word memories robust. Spacing out of learning episodes across the day was also an effective means of ensuring good vocabulary retention. |
| Exploitation Route | There are applications to education at all levels. It is important to think about ways of promoting good sleep for better educational outcomes. |
| Sectors | Education,Healthcare |
| Description | There is an increasing societal understanding of the importance of good sleep to wellbeing and education, and our research (alongside other similar fundamental research) has helped to improve that understanding. We are running pilot studies of the potential for better sleep habits to affect learning in adolescents. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Education |
| Impact Types | Societal |