Evidence for a role of memory in novel word-learning after perinatal stroke

Résumé fourni par la source

Children with left perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) often exhibit language and cognitive deficits. However, evaluations of language learning abilities are very scarce. Here, we compared word-referent associative learning and recall performance (immediate and delayed) using a fast-mapping (FM) paradigm in a group of 3.5-year-old children with PAIS (N = 9) and in age-matched control peers (N = 18). The task involved a referent selection phase followed by immediate and delayed recall trials of the novel word-object associations. While no between-group differences were observed in the referent selection and immediate recall phases, the group of children with PAIS showed lower performance in delayed recall of the newly learned associations. These results suggest that difficulties in word learning for children with PAIS may arise due to a memory retention failure rather than to the process of selecting the target referent during fast mapping. We discuss these findings in relation to the neural bases of infant language acquisition and their implications for clinical practice, particularly in terms of improving lexical acquisition and retention in children with PAIS.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.