19280
The Social Brain and Language Learning
Objectives: I will describe the research stemming from the SGH, which includes research on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using phonemes, words, and the motherese style of speaking to infants to probe possible early markers of risk in children with autism.
Methods: The studies described utilize both behavioral measures on typically developing infants and children with ASD as well as brain measures (EEG and MEG).
Results: The results suggest, in typically developing children, that early language learning depend on a social context and social interaction. In children with ASD, our results hold promise that our brain measures of language processing may some day contribute to the development of reliable “biomarkers” for children at risk for ASD.
Conclusions: I discuss the meaning and implications of the claim that language learning is “gated” by the social brain.
See more of: Interventions - Non-pharmacologic - Preschool