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Neural Correlates of Processing Syntax in Music and ... - PubMan

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General Discussion 162<br />

sent <strong>in</strong> the children with specific language impairment. The ERAN amplitude <strong>in</strong> 9- <strong>and</strong><br />

11-year old MT children was significantly larger than <strong>in</strong> NM children. An N5 was not<br />

present <strong>in</strong> 2½-year old children, but <strong>in</strong> all children <strong>of</strong> the older age groups (5-, 9-, <strong>and</strong><br />

11-year-olds). It was not present either <strong>in</strong> the children with SLI. As expected, musical<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g did not <strong>in</strong>fluence the amplitude size <strong>of</strong> the N5. The ELAN <strong>and</strong> the LSN reflect<br />

l<strong>in</strong>guistic-syntactic process<strong>in</strong>g. The LSN is regarded as a precursor <strong>of</strong> the ELAN, which<br />

reflects fast <strong>and</strong> automatic structure build<strong>in</strong>g processes. The LSN reflects the detection<br />

<strong>of</strong> a syntactic violation dur<strong>in</strong>g the period <strong>in</strong> which the ELAN develops (cf. Hahne et al.,<br />

2004). In accordance, an ELAN was not observed <strong>in</strong> the 9-year old children. In the 11year<br />

old children an ELAN was demonstrated, but only <strong>in</strong> the MT children. The LSN<br />

was present <strong>in</strong> 9- <strong>and</strong> 11-year old children. In the 9-year old children its amplitude size<br />

did not differ between children with MT <strong>and</strong> with NM. In contrast, for the 11-year old<br />

children with MT the LSN amplitude was significantly larger than <strong>in</strong> children with NM.<br />

It may be assumed that the amount <strong>of</strong> musical tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g the 9-year old children received<br />

was not sufficient to evoke the transfer effects that were found <strong>in</strong> the 11-year old children.<br />

Table 14-1 Summary <strong>of</strong> the ma<strong>in</strong> results <strong>of</strong> the present work: In 2½- <strong>and</strong> 5-year old children the process<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>of</strong> musical syntax was <strong>in</strong>vestigated (reflected <strong>in</strong> the ERP components ERAN <strong>and</strong> the<br />

N5; the table cells for the language ERP components are empty) whereas <strong>in</strong> 9- <strong>and</strong> 11-year<br />

old children the process<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> musical <strong>and</strong> l<strong>in</strong>guistic syntax (reflected <strong>in</strong> the ERP components<br />

ELAN <strong>and</strong> LSN) was compared.<br />

Experiment ERAN N5 ELAN LSN<br />

I 2½-year old<br />

N –<br />

children<br />

not <strong>in</strong>vestigated<br />

II 5-year old children N, S N, S<br />

III 9-year old children M > N M = N – M = N<br />

IV 11-year old<br />

children<br />

M > N M = N M M > N<br />

NOTE: The capitals <strong>in</strong> the table cells denote <strong>in</strong> which <strong>of</strong> the different groups <strong>of</strong> children the <strong>in</strong>vestigated ERP<br />

components were significant. “N” denotes the children with typical language development <strong>and</strong> without musical<br />

tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, “M” the children with musical tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> “S” children with SLI. “=” <strong>in</strong>dicates that the amplitude<br />

<strong>of</strong> the respective ERP component was <strong>of</strong> the same size <strong>in</strong> both groups, “>” that the component was<br />

significantly larger <strong>in</strong> one group.

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