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Title: Infant diet-related changes in syllable processing between 4 and 5 months: Implications for developing native language sensitivity

Author
item PIVIK, TERRY - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item ANDRES, ALINE - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item BAI, S - University Arkansas For Medical Sciences (UAMS)
item CLEVES, MARIO - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item TENNAL, KEVIN - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item GU, YUYUAN - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)
item BADGER, THOMAS - Arkansas Children'S Nutrition Research Center (ACNC)

Submitted to: Developmental Neuropsychology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2016
Publication Date: 10/19/2016
Citation: Pivik, T.R., Andres, A., Bai, S., Cleves, M.A., Tennal, K.B., Gu, Y., Badger, T.M. 2016. Infant diet-related changes in syllable processing between 4 and 5 months: Implications for developing native language sensitivity. Developmental Neuropsychology. 41(4):215-230. doi:10.1080/87565641.2016.1236109.

Interpretive Summary: The period between 3 and 6 months of age is an important time in early language development. when increasing sensitivity to native compared with non-native speech begins to emerge. This shift in language focus is dependent on maturation of brain processes that are influenced by dietary factors. It is not known how different infant diets influence the processing of native language sounds during this time. We measured brain responses to syllables in 4 and 5 month old infants who were fed breast milk or formula (milk- or soy-based) and found diet-related differences in response measures. Gender and background differences did not significantly influence these findings. The results suggest that breastfed and formula-fed infants differ in the onset of this critical period in speech development, and that sensitivities to native language speech properties are being established earlier in breastfed infants. These differences, if sustained, could promote advantages in later language acquisition and proficiency for breastfed infants.

Technical Abstract: Since maturational processes triggering increased attunement to native language features in early infancy are sensitive to dietary factors, infant-diet related differences in brain processing of native-language speech stimuli might indicate variations in onset of this tuning process. We measured cortical responses (ERPs) to syllables in 4 and 5 month old infants fed breast milk or formula (milk- or soy-based) and found syllable discrimination (P350) and syntactic-related functions (P600) but not early syllable perception (P170) varied by diet but not gender or background measures. The results suggest breastfed and formula-fed infants differ in onset of this critical period in speech perception.