HSE Scientists Test New Method to Investigate Mechanisms of New Word Acquisition
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain were among the first to use transcranial alternating current stimulation to investigate whether it can influence the acquisition of new words. Although the authors of the experiment have not yet found a link between brain stimulation and word acquisition, they believe that adjusting the stimulation parameters may yield different results in the future. The study has been published in Language, Cognition and Neuroscience.
The ability to acquire and appropriately use new words is essential for effective human communication. Throughout life, people continue to learn new words in their native language and also master foreign languages. Acquiring new words is a complex cognitive process, and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.
Modern neuroimaging techniques—such as electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging, and magnetoencephalography—allow researchers to look inside the brain and observe which regions are activated during specific cognitive processes. However, it remains impossible to determine whether the relationship between stimulation and brain processes is causal or merely coincidental. The use of alternating current in experiments changes the approach: it allows for modulating rhythms at specific frequencies and tracking their role in neural processes.
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain were among the first to investigate whether weak electrical stimulation of the brain at the theta frequency can help memorise new words. The scientists recruited 30 healthy volunteers and asked them to learn 80 pseudowords paired with Russian nouns. During the training, participants received low-current brain stimulation at theta rhythm frequencies (3.5–7.5 Hz) over the left frontotemporal regions of the brain, which are associated with speech and memory. The theta frequency band was deliberately chosen, because previous studies have shown that theta rhythms play a key role in transferring information from short-term to long-term memory.
After participants learned the words with stimulation, the researchers tested their memory retention. There was also a separate phase of learning and testing without stimulation to compare participants’ performance.
No improvement was observed in new word acquisition with stimulation compared to the control condition. The authors note that learning new words activates complex neural networks involving both the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus, which is difficult to stimulate noninvasively from the surface of the head.
Anna Komissarenko
'Although our study did not find a direct effect of alternating current stimulation on word acquisition, we still made an important step toward developing new methods to support language learning. We will continue our research in this direction, but future experiments will focus on other brain regions and types of stimulation,' explains Anna Komissarenko, Junior Research Fellow at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain and lead author of the paper.
In the future, the team plans to test different frequency bands and phases of electrical stimulation, change electrode placement, and expand the experiments to explore various cognitive functions. This can help deepen our understanding of how the brain’s electrical activity influences learning and memory, potentially leading to the development of accelerated language learning techniques, rehabilitation programmes for stroke and injury patients, and optimised neurostimulation methods to enhance memory.
See also:
HSE Scientists Uncover How Authoritativeness Shapes Trust
Researchers at the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience have studied how the brain responds to audio deepfakes—realistic fake speech recordings created using AI. The study shows that people tend to trust the current opinion of an authoritative speaker even when new statements contradict the speaker’s previous position. This effect also occurs when the statement conflicts with the listener’s internal attitudes. The research has been published in the journal NeuroImage.
Language Mapping in the Operating Room: HSE Neurolinguists Assist Surgeons in Complex Brain Surgery
Researchers from the HSE Center for Language and Brain took part in brain surgery on a patient who had been seriously wounded in the SMO. A shell fragment approximately five centimetres long entered through the eye socket, penetrated the cranial cavity, and became lodged in the brain, piercing the temporal lobe responsible for language. Surgeons at the Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital removed the foreign object while the patient remained conscious. During the operation, neurolinguists conducted language tests to ensure that language function was preserved.
AI Overestimates How Smart People Are, According to HSE Economists
Scientists at HSE University have found that current AI models, including ChatGPT and Claude, tend to overestimate the rationality of their human opponents—whether first-year undergraduate students or experienced scientists—in strategic thinking games, such as the Keynesian beauty contest. While these models attempt to predict human behaviour, they often end up playing 'too smart' and losing because they assume a higher level of logic in people than is actually present. The study has been published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.
Scientists Discover One of the Longest-Lasting Cases of COVID-19
An international team, including researchers from HSE University, examined an unusual SARS-CoV-2 sample obtained from an HIV-positive patient. Genetic analysis revealed multiple mutations and showed that the virus had been evolving inside the patient’s body for two years. This finding supports the theory that the virus can persist in individuals for years, gradually accumulate mutations, and eventually spill back into the population. The study's findings have been published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.
HSE Scientists Use MEG for Precise Language Mapping in the Brain
Scientists at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have demonstrated a more accurate way to identify the boundaries of language regions in the brain. They used magnetoencephalography (MEG) together with a sentence-completion task, which activates language areas and reveals their functioning in real time. This approach can help clinicians plan surgeries more effectively and improve diagnostic accuracy in cases where fMRI is not the optimal method. The study has been published in the European Journal of Neuroscience.
For the First Time, Linguists Describe the History of Russian Sign Language Interpreter Training
A team of researchers from Russia and the United Kingdom has, for the first time, provided a detailed account of the emergence and evolution of the Russian Sign Language (RSL) interpreter training system. This large-scale study spans from the 19th century to the present day, revealing both the achievements and challenges faced by the professional community. Results have been published in The Routledge Handbook of Sign Language Translation and Interpreting.
HSE Scientists Develop DeepGQ: AI-based 'Google Maps' for G-Quadruplexes
Researchers at the HSE AI Research Centre have developed an AI model that opens up new possibilities for the diagnosis and treatment of serious diseases, including brain cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Using artificial intelligence, the team studied G-quadruplexes—structures that play a crucial role in cellular function and in the development of organs and tissues. The findings have been published in Scientific Reports.
New Catalyst Maintains Effectiveness for 12 Hours
An international team including researchers from HSE MIEM has developed a catalyst that enables fast and low-cost hydrogen production from water. To achieve this, the scientists synthesised nanoparticles of a complex oxide containing six metals and anchored them onto various substrates. The catalyst supported on reduced graphene layers proved to be nearly three times more efficient than the same oxide without a substrate. This development could significantly reduce the cost of hydrogen production and accelerate the transition to green energy. The study has been published in ACS Applied Energy Materials. The work was carried out under a grant from the Russian Science Foundation.
HSE Strategic Technological Projects in 2025
In 2025, HSE University continued its participation in the Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Programme, maintaining a strong focus on technological leadership in line with the programme’s updated framework. A key element of the university’s technological leadership strategy is its Strategic Technological Projects (STPs), aimed at creating in-demand, knowledge-intensive products and services.
HSE Researchers Offer Guidance to Prevent Undergraduate Burnout
Researchers at the HSE Institute of Education have identified how much time students should ideally devote to their studies, extracurricular activities, and personal life to maintain strong academic performance without compromising their mental health. An analysis of responses from 2,753 students, combined with their actual academic results, revealed several risk factors—such as excessive homework—as well as positive factors, including sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and moderate participation in projects. Based on these findings, the researchers developed practical recommendations for both students and universities. The paper has been published in the European Journal of Education.