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High Frequency taVNS Increases Retention of Novel Language Learning in Young Adults
Poster B8 in Poster Session B and Reception, Thursday, October 6, 6:30 - 8:30 pm EDT, Millennium Hall
Tracy Centanni1, Vishal Thakkar1,2, Abby Engelhart1; 1Texas Christian University, 2University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Although the ability to acquire a novel language and attain fluency in that language is beneficial for a growing number of people, it is significantly more difficult to acquire such skills in adulthood. While traditional in-person and computer training programs can aid in this process, learning is often slow and retention is quite poor. A method for driving long-lasting neural plasticity during language learning would be valuable for those who need or want to achieve fluency in a novel language later in life. However, little is known about biologically-based interventions for language learning. The current study was designed to investigate whether transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) paired with training is capable of improving learning and retention of words in a new language as compared to sham stimulation. Twenty-nine typically developing young adults completed a one-hour training session in which they learned 30 Palauan nouns while receiving sham, 5 Hz, or 25 Hz stimulation to the left posterior tragus. Participants completed a free-recall translation test immediately after training and seven days later to quantify learning and retention. While there was no effect of stimulation group on translation test performance immediately after training (ps > 0.12), there was an effect at retention. Seven days after training, the 25 Hz taVNS group significantly outperformed both the sham (p = 0.01) and 5 Hz taVNS groups (p = 0.048), with no difference between the sham and 5 Hz taVNS groups (p = 0.68). We also evaluated the effect of stimulation intensity on efficacy in an additional 16 participants stimulated at 25 Hz and found no effect of intensity on retention (p = 0.10). These results suggest that taVNS may improve retention of novel vocabulary words and that stimulation frequency, but not intensity, may impact efficacy.
Topic Areas: Methods, Multilingualism