View in EDS

Explaining the Comprehension-Production Vocabulary Gap through Neural Networks and Cross-Syndrome Evidence: Insights from Williams Syndrome

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Explaining the Comprehension-Production Vocabulary Gap through Neural Networks and Cross-Syndrome Evidence: Insights from Williams Syndrome
Language: English
Authors: Dean D'Souza (ORCID 0000-0002-3053-2484), Hana D'Souza (ORCID 0000-0001-8841-8644), Julien Mayor (ORCID 0000-0001-9827-5421), Ángel Eugenio Tovar (ORCID 0000-0003-3669-5468)
Source: Developmental Science. 2026 29(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Genetic Disorders, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Young Children, Receptive Language, Expressive Language, Comprehension, Developmental Delays, Vocabulary Development, Visual Perception, Cognitive Processes, Semantics
DOI: 10.1111/desc.70115
ISSN: 1363-755X
1467-7687
Abstract: The comprehension-production vocabulary gap is a well-documented hallmark of language development; however, anecdotal evidence suggests that this asymmetry may be reduced in children with Williams syndrome (WS). Here, we use empirical data to characterise the comprehension-production gap and computational modelling to investigate potential mechanisms underlying this distinctive linguistic profile, focusing on children aged 7 months to 6 years. Using parental reports (Communicative Development Inventories), we measured the receptive and expressive vocabularies of children with WS (n = 67) and compared them to typically developing children (n = 1210) and cross-syndrome groups with Down syndrome (n = 27), and fragile X syndrome (n = 15). Results confirm that children with WS show a unique trajectory: alongside general delay, they exhibit a significantly reduced comprehension-production asymmetry not observed in other groups. To elucidate the potential origins of this phenomenon, we implemented a biologically inspired neural network--self-organising map (SOM)--to model early word learning and evaluate visual and auditory map representations. Our findings reveal that WS-like vocabulary patterns can emerge from selective difficulties in visual processing, leading to exemplar-based rather than prototype-based object representations. The model suggests that these visual processing challenges, consistent with known visuospatial difficulties in WS, may contribute to the atypical comprehension-production relationship, while broader processing constraints may underlie general delays. This study provides a mechanistic account of vocabulary development in WS, highlighting the role of visual constraints in shaping lexical outcomes. More broadly, it underscores the need to conceptualise language development as an interaction between sensory input and cognitive subsystems, explaining why the comprehension--production gap is not a uniform feature of language acquisition.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1498516
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1498516
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Explaining the Comprehension-Production Vocabulary Gap through Neural Networks and Cross-Syndrome Evidence: Insights from Williams Syndrome
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dean+D'Souza%22">Dean D'Souza</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3053-2484">0000-0002-3053-2484</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hana+D'Souza%22">Hana D'Souza</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8841-8644">0000-0001-8841-8644</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Julien+Mayor%22">Julien Mayor</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9827-5421">0000-0001-9827-5421</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ángel+Eugenio+Tovar%22">Ángel Eugenio Tovar</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3669-5468">0000-0003-3669-5468</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Developmental+Science%22"><i>Developmental Science</i></searchLink>. 2026 29(2).
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 12
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Genetic+Disorders%22">Genetic Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Neurodevelopmental+Disorders%22">Neurodevelopmental Disorders</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Young+Children%22">Young Children</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Receptive+Language%22">Receptive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expressive+Language%22">Expressive Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Comprehension%22">Comprehension</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developmental+Delays%22">Developmental Delays</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocabulary+Development%22">Vocabulary Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Visual+Perception%22">Visual Perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+Processes%22">Cognitive Processes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Semantics%22">Semantics</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1111/desc.70115
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 1363-755X<br />1467-7687
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The comprehension-production vocabulary gap is a well-documented hallmark of language development; however, anecdotal evidence suggests that this asymmetry may be reduced in children with Williams syndrome (WS). Here, we use empirical data to characterise the comprehension-production gap and computational modelling to investigate potential mechanisms underlying this distinctive linguistic profile, focusing on children aged 7 months to 6 years. Using parental reports (Communicative Development Inventories), we measured the receptive and expressive vocabularies of children with WS (n = 67) and compared them to typically developing children (n = 1210) and cross-syndrome groups with Down syndrome (n = 27), and fragile X syndrome (n = 15). Results confirm that children with WS show a unique trajectory: alongside general delay, they exhibit a significantly reduced comprehension-production asymmetry not observed in other groups. To elucidate the potential origins of this phenomenon, we implemented a biologically inspired neural network--self-organising map (SOM)--to model early word learning and evaluate visual and auditory map representations. Our findings reveal that WS-like vocabulary patterns can emerge from selective difficulties in visual processing, leading to exemplar-based rather than prototype-based object representations. The model suggests that these visual processing challenges, consistent with known visuospatial difficulties in WS, may contribute to the atypical comprehension-production relationship, while broader processing constraints may underlie general delays. This study provides a mechanistic account of vocabulary development in WS, highlighting the role of visual constraints in shaping lexical outcomes. More broadly, it underscores the need to conceptualise language development as an interaction between sensory input and cognitive subsystems, explaining why the comprehension--production gap is not a uniform feature of language acquisition.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1498516
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1498516
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/desc.70115
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Genetic Disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Neurodevelopmental Disorders
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Young Children
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Receptive Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Expressive Language
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Comprehension
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Developmental Delays
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Vocabulary Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Visual Perception
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive Processes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Semantics
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Explaining the Comprehension-Production Vocabulary Gap through Neural Networks and Cross-Syndrome Evidence: Insights from Williams Syndrome
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Dean D'Souza
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hana D'Souza
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Julien Mayor
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Ángel Eugenio Tovar
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 03
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 1363-755X
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1467-7687
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 29
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Developmental Science
              Type: main
ResultId 1