The effects of prosody and referent characteristics on novel noun learning in children.

Prosody is how words are spoken, often affecting the messages we convey. When prosody is relevant to the meaning, word learning is enhanced; however, it is unknown whether children attend to prosody that is not relevant to a word learning task (e.g.

Contextual Factors Affecting Risky Decision Making: The Influence of Music on Task Performance and Perceived Distraction.

Previous research has investigated factors that contribute to the development of different risk-taking behaviors, such as can occur on lab-based behavioral risky decision making tasks. On several of the most common tasks, participants must develop an adequate understanding of the relative risks and benefits associated with each decision in order to learn to decide advantageously. However, contextual factors can affect the decision making process and one's ability to weigh the risks and benefits of a decision.

Manipulating the decision making process: Influencing a "gut" reaction.

The present series of studies sought to examine how external factors influence behavioral decision making task performance. Utilizing the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) to assess risky decision making, we examined the influence of a dual task paradigm (Study 1, Study 2), shifting task focus to decision making speed versus accuracy (Study 3), and varied intertrial intervals (Study 4). College student participants completed the IGT and decision making speed and the patterns of IGT selections by deck in the earlier (decision making under ambiguity) and later (decision making under risk) trials were examined.

Music lessons are associated with increased verbal memory in individuals with Williams syndrome.

Williams syndrome (WS) is a genetic disorder characterized by intellectual delay and an affinity for music. It has been previously shown that familiar music can enhance verbal memory in individuals with WS who have had music training. There is also evidence that unfamiliar, or novel, music may also improve cognitive recall.

Beyond words: comprehension and production of pragmatic prosody in adults and children.

Prosody includes suprasegmental components of speech, such as intonation and rate, which add meaning beyond the words being spoken. Sensitivity to pragmatic prosody could improve communication within conversations. These studies investigated adults' and preschoolers' sensitivity to pragmatic prosody.