Regular rhythmic primes improve sentence repetition in children with developmental language disorder

Recently reported links between rhythm and grammar processing have opened new perspectives for using rhythm in clinical interventions for children with developmental language disorder (DLD). Previous research using the rhythmic priming paradigm has shown improved performance on language tasks after regular rhythmic primes compared to control conditions. However, this research has been limited to effects of rhythmic priming on grammaticality judgments. The current study investigated whether regular rhythmic primes could also benefit sentence repetition, a task requiring proficiency in complex syntax—an area of difficultly for children with DLD. Regular rhythmic primes improved sentence repetition performance compared to irregular rhythmic primes in children with DLD and with typical development—an effect that did not occur with a non-linguistic control task. These findings suggest processing overlap for musical rhythm and linguistic syntax, with implications for the use of rhythmic stimulation for treatment of children with DLD in clinical research and practice

Data for: Rhythmic and textural musical sequences influence differently syntax and semantic processing in children

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Music for stimulating syntax and semantic processing : investigation of different musical parameters

Un grand nombre de recherches ont mis en évidence des effets bénéfiques de la musique sur la cognition et le traitement du langage, à la fois à long terme et à court terme. Les effets à court terme de l’écoute de la musique ont été interprétés soit comme des effets non spécifiques (effets généraux de la modulation de l’humeur et du niveau d’éveil), soit comme des effets spécifiques, comme par exemple entre le rythme et la syntaxe. Dans cette thèse, nous avons cherché à mettre en évidence des effets de stimulation potentiels de certains paramètres musicaux (rythme, texture et paramètres permettant d’évoquer des émotions) sur des tâches linguistiques syntaxiques et sémantiques. Nous avons mesuré les performances d’enfants (âgés de 6 à 8 ans) et d’adultes dans plusieurs tâches comportementales (jugement grammatical, évocation lexicale, jugement de congruence, décision lexicale) après l’écoute de séquences musicales de différents types. L’ensemble de nos recherches suggère que le rythme, la texture et les émotions ont chacun des influences différenciées sur les traitements syntaxique et sémantique. Des séquences rythmiques régulières ont un effet bénéfique sur le jugement grammatical, tandis que des séquences texturales favorisent l’évocation lexicale. De plus, les émotions ont davantage d’influence sur le traitement sémantique que sur le traitement syntaxique. L’écoute musicale déclencherait des processus cognitifs ou des styles de traitement particuliers en fonction des caractéristiques de la musique écoutée, et ces processus influenceraient le traitement syntaxique et/ou le traitement sémantique. Ces données encouragent à considérer la musique comme un moyen potentiel de stimulation pour la cognition et le traitement du langage, en prenant en considération les effets de différents paramètres musicaux. Elles ouvrent des perspectives pour la réhabilitation des troubles du langage dans les domaines de la syntaxe et de la sémantique.Numerous research has provided evidence for beneficial effects of music on cognition and language processing, in both short-term and long-term paradigms. Short-term effects of music listening have been interpreted as non specific effects (general effects of modulation of mood and arousal), as well as specific effects, for example between rhythm and syntax. In this thesis, we aimed to show potential stimulation effects of a selection of musical parameters (rhythm, texture, and parameters related to evoke emotions) on linguistic syntax and semantic tasks. We measured performance of 6 to 8 year-old children and of adults in a set of behavioral tasks (grammaticality judgment, lexical evocation, congruency judgment, lexical decision) after listening to musical sequences of different types. Our research results revealed that rhythm, texture and emotions each have differential influences on syntax and semantic processing. Regular rhythmic sequences have a beneficial effect on grammatical judgment, while textural sequences promote lexical evocation. Moreover, emotions have a greater influence on semantic processing than syntax processing. Music listening may trigger particular cognitive processes or information processing styles depending on the musical parameters, and these cognitive processes may influence syntax processing and/or semantic processing. These findings suggest the potential of music to boost cognition and language processing by taking in consideration the effect of different musical parameters. They open perspectives for the training and rehabilitation of syntax and semantics in the case of developmental language disorders

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Influence of regular rhythmic versus textural sound sequences on semantic and conceptual processing

International audienceConceptual priming studies have shown that listening to musical primes triggers semantic activation. The present study further investigated with a free semantic evocation task (1) how rhythmic vs. textural structures affect the amount of words evoked after a musical sequence and (2) whether both features also affect the content of the semantic activation. Rhythmi

When Visual Cues Do Not Help the Beat: Evidence for a Detrimental Effect of Moving Point-Light Figures on Rhythmic Priming

International audienceRhythm perception involves strong auditory-motor connections that can be enhanced with movement. However, it is unclear whether just seeing someone moving to a rhythm can enhance auditory-motor coupling, resulting in stronger entrainment. Rhythmic priming studies show that presenting regular rhythms before naturally spoken sentences can enhance grammaticality judgments compared to irregular rhythms or other baseline conditions. The current study investigated whether introducing a point-light figure moving in time with regular rhythms could enhance the rhythmic priming effect. Three experiments revealed that the addition of a visual cue did not benefit rhythmic priming in comparison to auditory conditions with a static image. In Experiment 1 (27 7-8-year-old children), grammaticality judgments were poorer after audiovisual regular rhythms (with a bouncing point-light figure) compared to auditory-only regular rhythms. In Experiments 2 (31 adults) and 3 (31 different adults), there was no difference in grammaticality judgments after audiovisual regular rhythms compared to auditory-only irregular rhythms for either a bouncing point-light figure (Experiment 2) or a swaying point-light figure (Experiment 3). Comparison of the observed performance with previous data suggested that the audiovisual component removed the regular prime benefit. These findings suggest that the visual cues used in this study do not enhance rhythmic priming and could hinder the effect by potentially creating a dual-task situation. In addition, individual differences in sensory-motor and social scales of music reward influenced the effect of the visual cue. Implications for future audiovisual experiments aiming to enhance beat processing, and the importance of individual differences will be discussed

Imaging bacterial cells and biofilms adhering to hydrophobic organic compounds-water interfaces

International audienceAssimilation of Hydrophobic Organic Compound (HOC) entails frequently the formation of biofilm at the HOC-water interface. Knowledge on the behavior of cells at the oil-water interface and within the structured biofilm is therefore important to understand the degradation of the HOC in ecosystems. The adhesion and biofilm formation on oil-water interface is best documented by microscopic observations. In this chapter we thus describe two methods for observation of bacterial cells and biofilms growing at the HOC-water interface. The first method uses CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy) to obtain in situ images of biofilm developing on thin paraffin strip which offers a flat transparent surface allowing imaging directly through the bottom of the culture dish without sampling. Alternatively, the biofilm can be grown on a paraffin strip deposited on a glass microscope slide and then imaged from the top when high resolution is needed. The second method addresses the problematic of the ultrastructure of biofilm developing on HOC. It enables to obtain by TEM (transmission electron microscopy) images of cross sections of biofilms with identification of the side in contact with the HOC

Should the biofilm mode of life be taken into consideration for microbial biocontrol agents?

Almost one-third of crop yields are lost every year due to microbial alterations and diseases. The main control strategy to limit these losses is the use of an array of chemicals active against spoilage and unwanted pathogenic microorganisms. Their massive use has led to extensive environmental pollution, human poisoning and a variety of diseases. An emerging alternative to this chemical approach is the use of microbial biocontrol agents. Biopesticides have been used with success in several fields, but a better understanding of their mode of action is necessary to better control their activity and increase their use. Very few studies have considered that biofilms are the preferred mode of life of microorganisms in the target agricultural biotopes. Increasing evidence shows that the spatial organization of microbial communities on crop surfaces may drive important bioprotection mechanisms. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence of biofilm formation by biocontrol agents on crops and discuss how this surface-associated mode of life may influence their biology and interactions with other microorganisms and the host and, finally, their overall beneficial activity

The Regularity of Rhythmic Primes In6luences Syntax Processing in Adults

International audienceRecent research has shown that auditory rhythmic stimulation improves subsequent syntax processing of speech in children with and without developmental language disorders. Sensitivity to grammatical errors is enhanced after regular rhythmic primes in comparison to irregular ones. Our present study investigated this rhythmic priming effect in healthy adults by using subtle grammatical errors as targets, aiming to \it with the high linguistic level of the participants. We also assessed whether participants' sensitivity to rhythmic priming on syntax processing was related to self-reported rhythmic skills and musical habits. Participants listened to rhythmic regular or irregular primes followed by blocks of six grammatically correct or incorrect sentences. Participants provided grammaticality judgments on each of the sentences, and response accuracy was analyzed. Furthermore, participants \illed out a questionnaire about their musical skills, listening habits and music experience. Results revealed better grammaticality processing after regular rhythmic primes in comparison to irregular ones in healthy adults. Moreover, self-reported individual characteristics related to (1) rhythmic processing and synchronization, (2) amount of daily exposure to music, and (3) social bonding, contributed to signi\icantly predict the rhythmic priming effect. Our \indings con\irm the in\luence of temporal regularities of musical primes on subsequent syntax processing, even when syntax processing is automatized (as in healthy young adults), and they point to inter-individual differences modulating the strength of this priming effect. We discuss results within the framework of the Dynamic Attending Theory suggesting that regular rhythms orient attentional resources over time, improving the processing of event structures, including for speech

Understanding the structure of ganache: Link between composition and texture

International audienceGanache is a common chocolate preparation used as a filling for chocolate bonbons. The aim of this study was to understand the links between ganache composition, microstructure and macroscopic behaviour. The study proved that hot ganache is an oil-in-water emulsion, which evolves upon cooling into a bicontinuous system. Dark and white model ganaches were manufactured to understand the roles of components such as sugar, water, fat and cocoa in ganache structure and texture. Water activity and consistency of hot ganache, as well as firmness of crystallised ganache were measured. Real ganaches, standard and split (i.e. destabilised), were also manufactured, and analysed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results showed that the main parameters explaining ganache behaviour and texture were the quantity of free water in ganache, and the balance between the aqueous phase and the fat phase. Results also highlighted the importance of non-fat cocoa in ganache, as a texturing agent that can help stabilise (in the case of standard ganache) or destabilise ganache (in the case of split ganache)