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Rationale: Impaired procedural memory has recently been proposed as an account for Specific Language Impairment (SLI). However, procedural memory is a heterogeneous collection of phenomena, including skill learning, sequential learning, categorization learning, and prediction learning. In this study, we aim to examine the performance of individuals with SLI on different aspects of procedural memory.
Methods: 19 young adults with SLI and 14 controls participated in the study. Procedural memory was assessed by: 1) the pursuit rotor task, measuring motor-based skill learning, 2) the serial reaction time task (SRT), measuring the sensory-motor sequential learning, 3) weather prediction task (WP): measuring probabilistic categorization learning, and 4) the reinforcement learning task, measuring prediction learning.
Results: Compared to the control group, the SLI group showed 1) similar fine-motor skill learning on the pursuit rotor task, 2) slower learning rates in the SRT task, 3) similar learning ability in the WP task, and 4) less efficient ability to predict results based on feedback.
Conclusions: Aspects of procedural memory were differentially impaired in young adults with SLI.
[Research supported by NIH] |
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