Learning Novel Word Meanings: An ERP Study on Lexical Consolidation in Monolingual, Inexperienced Foreign Language Learners
LANGUAGE LEARNING
Authors: Liu, Yushuang; van Hell, Janet G.
Abstract
Novel word learning and consolidation was studied in inexperienced language learners, to conceptually replicate and extend a similar study in experienced learners by Bakker, Takashima, Van Hell, Janzen, and McQueen (2015). Participants learned definitions for novel words on Day 1 and for another set of novel words on Day 2. Brain potentials collected in a semantic relatedness task revealed that learned words elicited a late positive component (LPC) priming effect after 24 hours but not on the day of learning. On Day 8, all previously learned words elicited LPC priming effects, but failed to modulate the N400. While LPC modulation emerged immediately after learning in the previous study of experienced learners, novel word meanings were found lexicalized only on Day 2 for inexperienced learners. Together, the findings suggest that novel word meaning lexicalization is gradual, and that prior language learning experience speeds up the process.
MORPHOLOGY AND OSTEOHISTOLOGY OF A LARGE-BODIED CAENAGNATHID (THEROPODA, OVIRAPTOROSAURIA) FROM THE HELL CREEK FORMATION (MONTANA): IMPLICATIONS FOR SIZE-BASED CLASSIFICATIONS AND GROWTH RECONSTRUCTION IN THEROPODS
PAPERS IN PALAEONTOLOGY
Authors: Cullen, Thomas M.; Simon, D. Jade; Benner, Elizabeth K. C.; Evans, David C.
Abstract
Oviraptorosaurs, like many coelurosaurians, are frequently diagnosed using incomplete or fragmentary skeletal remains, with factors such as body size often used to assign material to a particular taxon or as a basis for describing new species. Here we describe a partial skeleton, ROM VP 65884, from the Hell Creek Formation (Montana, USA), and through morphological and phylogenetic comparisons identify it as belonging to Caenagnathidae, and probably referable to Anzu wyliei. We perform multi-element osteohistological sampling of the tibia, fibula, manual phalanx, rib and gastralium of ROM VP 65884 to determine the ontogenetic status of the individual, and to perform a detailed assessment of the intra-skeletal variation present in a series of histological proxies for growth and development. Skeletochronological analysis suggests ROM VP 65884 was still actively growing at time of death. Lacunar area was variable, but consistent with values reported for other dinosaurs and vertebrates. Osteocyte lacunar density was found to be relatively similar to the few previous measurements known from coelurosaurian dinosaurs, and preserved no ontogenetic pattern. Osteocyte lacunar density (OLD) was much higher in sampled rib and gastralia elements when compared to limbs, and the high variability in OLD overall lends further support against the hypothesis of this feature acting as a proxy for mass-specific growth rate. Our results stress the importance of using osteohistological analyses to constrain variation and permit ontogenetic assessment, and suggest caution be taken when using size as a determinant for referral of disassociated elements to specific or new coelurosaur taxa.