Touch to learn: Multisensory input supports word learning and processing.

Infants experience language in rich multisensory environments. For example, they may first be exposed to the word applesauce while touching, tasting, smelling, and seeing applesauce. In three experiments using different methods we asked whether the number of distinct senses linked with the semantic features of objects would impact word recognition and learning. Specifically, in Experiment 1 we asked whether words linked with more multisensory experiences were learned earlier than words linked fewer multisensory experiences. In Experiment 2, we asked whether 2-year-olds' known words linked with more multisensory experiences were better recognized than those linked with fewer. Finally, in Experiment 3, we taught 2-year-olds labels for novel objects that were linked with either just visual or visual and tactile experiences and asked whether this impacted their ability to learn the new label-to-object mappings. Results converge to support an account in which richer multisensory experiences better support word learning. We discuss two pathways through which rich multisensory experiences might support word learning. © 2023 The Authors. Developmental Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Citation

Amanda H Seidl, Michelle Indarjit, Arielle Borovsky. Touch to learn: Multisensory input supports word learning and processing. Developmental science. 2023 Jun 08:e13419

PMID: 37291692

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