Patrick C.M. Wong, PhD, to Speak at Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences Research Colloquium Series

Please join us at the following research seminar:

Boston University Speech and Hearing Sciences Department Research Colloquium Series

“Personalized Learning: From Neurogenetic Markers to Modification of Training”

Empirical studies and anecdotal evidence point to the fact that a large individual variability exists in learning in adulthood. In particular, second language learning, especially foreign phoneme and grammar learning, is notoriously challenging, and adults differ to a large extent in how successful they learn. How this variability can be identified before training and how altering training may reduce variability have yet to be extensively investigated. In this presentation, I report two sets of experiments targeting these two questions, including experiments examining the learning of lexical tones and phonological opacity by native English-speaking adults. Both sets of experiments suggest that the large individual variability in language learning success can be attributed to genetic, neurobiological, perceptual, and/or cognitive factors. Furthermore, redesigning training based on these predictors can sometimes optimize learning. For examples, training programs that take advantage of phonetic- honology continuity and reducing the degree of phonetic-indexical variation can benefit the weaker (but not stronger) learners. Training that increases trial-by-trial feedback can further improve the learning of learners with high (but not low) procedural memory ability. I will discuss how these experiments may provide an opportunity for understanding the nature of linguistic representations, the manner in which language processing and learning occurs in the brain, and the interactions between linguistic and cognitive systems. I will also discuss how such knowledge may have the potential to improve language pedagogy and treatment of communication disorders.

Patrick C. M. Wong, PhD, CCC-SLP
The Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Dept. of Communication Sciences & Disorders, Dept. of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, and Institute for Neuroscience
Northwestern University

DATE: Friday, February 24, 2012

TIME: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

LOCATION: Sargent Rm. 220

Refreshments will be served.