Passive learning of speech sounds associated with microstructure of fronto-temporo-parietal but not fronto-striatal white matter tracts : possible implications for implicit language learning tasks
Language learners must become able to perceive and process new speech sounds in order to segment words and sentences. The process of obtaining these skills is, to a high degree, implicit. However, research attempting to find the neuroanatomical correlates of such an implicit learning system has mostly used artificial grammar or serial reaction time tasks that are lacking in linguistic relevance. ILanguage learning involves implicitly acquiring a sensitivity for novel speech sounds and phonological structure [1]. Implicit learning skill differs between individuals [2] and this individual difference could potentially be reflected in the quality of white matter tracts relevant for speech perception and production [3] or for implicit sequence learning [4]. Implicit learning of speech has been