Innovative Research on Language Processing Using Eye-Tracking Technologies

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In our latest study, we use advanced eye-tracking technology- a highly precise camera that lets us monitor your children’s gaze and eye movements in a simple and comfortable way- to gain a unique glimpse into how they understand language.

One of the most remarkable language-processing abilities is the capacity to anticipate what we are about to hear.

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Studies have found that even very young children can successfully predict parts of words and sentences they haven’t yet heard, drawing on their prior language experience. This predictive skill is linked to higher-level language processing and future academic achievement, making it a key focus of research- including in our lab!

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To understand how children predict different parts of speech, such as nouns or verbs, we present them with short sentences and ask them to choose the word that best completes each sentence from four options. While they perform this computer-based task, our eye-tracking camera records their gaze, giving us a window into the rapid, internal language-processing that occurs before they even select an answer.

 

Which images draw their attention? What captures their focus? Which part of the sentence causes them to look at a particular image?

 

Since we know that predictive ability depends on prior language exposure, we also assess the children’s vocabulary, based on the idea that those who recognize more words will be able to process and use them more efficiently in real time. Finally, we include a measure of IQ as a control variable, to determine whether there is a relationship between intelligence and children’s predictive language abilities.