Transcranial direct-current stimulation of core language areas facilitates novel word acquisition.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that can alter the state of the stimulated brain area and thereby affect neurocognitive processes and resulting behavioural performance. Previous studies using tDCS to address the language function have shown disparate results, particularly with respect to language learning and word acquisition. To fill this gap, this study aimed at systematically addressing the effects of tDCS of core left-hemispheric language cortices on the brain mechanisms underpinning two main neurocognitive strategies of word learning: implicit inference-based Fast Mapping (FM) and direct instruction-based Explicit Encoding (EE).

Globally, songs and instrumental melodies are slower and higher and use more stable pitches than speech: A Registered Report.

Both music and language are found in all known human societies, yet no studies have compared similarities and differences between song, speech, and instrumental music on a global scale. In this Registered Report, we analyzed two global datasets: (i) 300 annotated audio recordings representing matched sets of traditional songs, recited lyrics, conversational speech, and instrumental melodies from our 75 coauthors speaking 55 languages; and (ii) 418 previously published adult-directed song and speech recordings from 209 individuals speaking 16 languages. Of our six preregistered predictions, five were strongly supported: Relative to speech, songs use (i) higher pitch, (ii) slower temporal rate, and (iii) more stable pitches, while both songs and speech used similar (iv) pitch interval size and (v) timbral brightness.

Clonal structure and the specificity of vaccine-induced T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein.

Adenovirus vaccines, particularly the COVID-19 Ad5-nCoV adenovirus vaccine, have emerged as promising tools in the fight against infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated the structure of the T cell response to the Spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus used in the COVID-19 Ad5-nCoV adenoviral vaccine in a phase 3 clinical trial (NCT04540419). In 69 participants, we collected peripheral blood samples at four time points after vaccination or placebo injection.

The evolutionary dynamics of how languages signal who does what to whom.

Languages vary in how they signal "who does what to whom". Three main strategies to indicate the participant roles of "who" and "whom" are case, verbal indexing, and rigid word order. Languages that disambiguate these roles with case tend to have either verb-final or flexible word order.