Experimental studies in the string-context mutual segmentation hypothesis of language emergence

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In this project we tried to give experimental supports for the string-context mutual segmentation hypothesis. This hypothesis assumes the ability to segment ongoing auditory stream and the ability to segment ongoing behavioural contexts would mutually influence each other to support the emergence of proto-language. We advanced independent experiments on the two processes and found that the string segmentation involves basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex while the context segmentation is dependent on hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. However, we were not able to clarify the mechanisms of mutual segmentation process. Further research is needed to clarify the process of mutual segmentation.