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Memory for nonadjacent dependencies in the first year of life and its relation to sleep

Author

Listed:
  • Manuela Friedrich

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences)

  • Matthias Mölle

    (University of Lübeck)

  • Jan Born

    (University of Tübingen)

  • Angela D. Friederici

    (Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences)

Abstract

Grammar learning requires memory for dependencies between nonadjacent elements in speech. Immediate learning of nonadjacent dependencies has been observed in very young infants, but their memory of such dependencies has remained unexplored. Here we used event-related potentials to investigate whether 6- to 8-month-olds retain nonadjacent dependencies and if sleep after learning affects this memory. Infants were familiarised with two rule-based morphosyntactic dependencies, presented in sentences of an unknown language. Brain responses after a retention period reveal memory of the nonadjacent dependencies, independent of whether infants napped or stayed awake. Napping, however, altered a specific processing stage, suggesting that memory evolves during sleep. Infants with high left frontal spindle activity show an additional brain response indicating memory of individual speech phrases. Results imply that infants as young as 6 months are equipped with memory mechanisms relevant to grammar learning. They also suggest that during sleep, consolidation of highly specific information can co-occur with changes in the nature of generalised memory.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuela Friedrich & Matthias Mölle & Jan Born & Angela D. Friederici, 2022. "Memory for nonadjacent dependencies in the first year of life and its relation to sleep," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-35558-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35558-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Manuela Friedrich & Ines Wilhelm & Jan Born & Angela D. Friederici, 2015. "Generalization of word meanings during infant sleep," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-9, May.
    2. Manuela Friedrich & Matthias Mölle & Angela D. Friederici & Jan Born, 2020. "Sleep-dependent memory consolidation in infants protects new episodic memories from existing semantic memories," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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