Statistical learning is lasting and consistent over time

► Used embedded triplet paradigm to examine visual statistical learning (SL) over time. ► We delayed presentation of the test phase in relation to familiarisation phase. ► Significant SL at each of 5 delay periods: 30min, 1h, 2h, 4h, 24h. ► Degree of SL was consistent across the five delay periods....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuroscience letters 2012-05, Vol.517 (2), p.133-135
Main Authors: Arciuli, Joanne, Simpson, Ian Craig
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Cognition
Cognition - physiology
Consolidation
Female
Humans
Implicit learning
Learning - physiology
Male
Memory - physiology
Mental Processes
Photic Stimulation
Sleep
Sleep - physiology
Statistical learning (SL)
Statistics as Topic
VSL
Young Adult
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Summary:► Used embedded triplet paradigm to examine visual statistical learning (SL) over time. ► We delayed presentation of the test phase in relation to familiarisation phase. ► Significant SL at each of 5 delay periods: 30min, 1h, 2h, 4h, 24h. ► Degree of SL was consistent across the five delay periods. ► Visual SL is remarkably robust over time. Implicit detection of statistical regularities is thought to be a ubiquitous facet of cognition; yet, we know little about statistical learning (SL) over time. A recent study showed that visual SL can be observed at 24h post stimulus (Kim et al., 2009 [14]). Here we sought to obtain a finer-grained picture of visual SL over time. We employed an embedded triplet paradigm and delayed presentation of the surprise test phase, in relation to the initial familiarisation phase, across five time periods: 30min, 1h, 2h, 4h and 24h. Results revealed a significant degree of SL at each delay period. Moreover, the degree of SL was consistent across the five delay periods. These results suggest that visual SL is remarkably consistent over time. It does not appear to be fragile and does not appear to be enhanced by sleep in healthy adults. This robustness is desirable in a mechanism thought to underpin a broad range of mental activities including language processing. Future research might use the methodology we report here to examine whether similarly stable levels of SL can be observed in individuals with language impairment, such as those with SLI and dyslexia, compared with typical peers.
ISSN:0304-3940
1872-7972
DOI:10.1016/j.neulet.2012.04.045