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Article published In: The Mental Lexicon
Vol. 14:3 (2019) ► pp.381–398

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Contributions of episodic memory to novel word learning

 | Kent State University
 | University of North Texas
 | Kent State University
Published online: 13 May 2020
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https://doi.org/10.1075/ml.19019.ham
Abstract
Multiple theories predict that word learning is intimately linked to episodic memory, at least in the early phases of learning. However, it is unclear to what degree this link reflects more domain-specific (i.e., those dedicated to language or the lexicon) or more domain-general episodic memory processes that operate outside of language. One way to address this possibility is by using a behavioral individual differences design. This study examined whether behavioral individual differences in episodic memory abilities predicted adult word learning abilities. If behavioral performance in a nonlinguistic episodic memory task is predictive of behavioral performance in word learning, then it is likely that they share a common underlying nonlinguistic, memory-based mechanism. The results revealed that individual differences in episodic memory abilities predicted word learning abilities shortly after learning but not two days later. These behavioral results are consistent with prior neuropsychological observations (e.g., in amnesia: Kensinger, E. A., Ullman, M. T., & Corkin, S. (2001). Bilateral medial temporal lobe damage does not affect lexical or grammatical processing: evidence from amnesic patient H.M. Hippocampus, 11(4), 347–360. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar) as well as with theories positing a shift in reliance in lexical development from episodic memory to a distributed neocortical memory system after a period of sleep (e.g., Davis, M. H., & Gaskell, M. G. (2009). A complementary systems account of word learning: neural and behavioural evidence. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 364(1536), 3773–3800. Google Scholar logo with link to Google Scholar).
Article outline
  • The present study
  • Methods
    • Participants
    • Materials
      • Episodic memory task
      • Word learning task
    • Procedure
    • Statistical analyses
  • Results
  • Discussion
    • Limitations
  • Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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