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.
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‘Hedgehog’ Versus ‘Relatives’: Researchers Measure How the Brain Responds to Unexpected Words During Natural Speech
Russian neurophysiologists, including researchers from HSE University, have demonstrated the feasibility of using event-related fields (ERFs) to study brain activity during natural speech perception. The researchers showed that this approach can be applied not only to individual words but also to continuous speech. Their findings indicate that words whose meanings differ significantly from the preceding context require longer processing times. The study also reveals that the brain processes function words in two stages: first, it identifies their grammatical role and then uses this information to predict the next word. The study has been published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.
HSE Researchers Create New Corpus of Early Child Speech in Russian
Researchers at the HSE Centre for Language and Brain have presented RusLan-M, an open multimedia corpus that makes it possible to trace the development of early child speech in Russian from first words to the emergence of complex grammatical constructions. The database contains around 41 hours of video recordings and more than 35,000 child utterances. The new resource will help researchers study more precisely how children acquire Russian and, in the longer term, develop more reliable tools for assessing speech development. The study has been published in Language Resources and Evaluation.
Hybrid Intelligence: Competencies in the Age of AI Discussed at Technoprom-2026
Artificial intelligence is not creating new professions, but rather transforming the nature of existing ones. This was the conclusion reached by participants in the panel session ‘Hybrid Intelligence: Digital and Human Drivers of Development,’ organised by the Institute for Statistical Studies and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEK) at HSE University as part of the 13th International Forum of Technological Development (Technoprom-2026). The experts discussed how the nature of work is changing, which skills are becoming increasingly sought after, and what prevents companies from fully capitalising on new technologies.
Scientists Develop New Solution for 6G Communication Systems
A terahertz neuromorphic circuit developed by scientists at HSE University could make 6G communication systems both more accurate and energy-efficient. The circuit enables indoor tracking of mobile devices with an accuracy of up to 99%. The results were presented at PIERS 2026, an international symposium on Photonics and Electromagnetism held in China.
Scientists Develop Algorithm for More Reliable Processors in Data Centres
Researchers from HSE MIEM and Samara University have developed the LRF-3D algorithm to automatically bypass idle nodes in three-dimensional networks-on-chip. Thanks to its hierarchical architecture, the algorithm outperforms existing solutions in both speed and path accuracy, improving processor reliability for use in data centres, supercomputers, and AI computing. The source code and test results are publicly available.
Researchers Rank Recommendation Algorithms Using Sports Tournament Model
Researchers from the AI and Digital Science Institute at the HSE Faculty of Computer Science have developed an approach for selecting recommendation algorithms more effectively. Their approach uses pairwise comparisons of algorithms to create a tournament table, with the overall ranking based on their performance across all datasets in the tournament. This can reduce the number of algorithms that need to be tested when developing new services, saving both time and money. The study was presented at the 32nd ACM SIGKDD Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD 2026).
Researchers Develop Method for Direct Generation of Regulatory DNA
Researchers at HSE University have developed a model for generating promoters and enhancers—DNA sequences that regulate gene activity. The model works directly with DNA nucleotides, without first transforming them into a continuous numerical representation. This solution could be useful for applications in synthetic biology and gene therapy. The study results were presented at the ICLR 2026 Workshop ‘Generative AI in Genomics (Gen^2): Barriers and Frontiers.’
Researchers at HSE University and Sber Train Neural Networks to Better Predict User Preferences
The HSE FCS AI and Digital Science Institute and Sber have introduced a new architecture for recommendation systems that combines two classes of models, enabling algorithms to better predict users’ interests and needs. A preprint of the paper has been published on arxiv.org and presented at Urban ML.
Physicists Discover What Happens Inside a Stable Vortex
Large vortices with characteristic spiral arms are often observed in the atmosphere and the ocean. Physicists from HSE University have explained how these structures form and why they retain their shape. The researchers found that velocities at points located along the same vortex arc remain correlated even over long distances. At the same time, this correlation weakens rapidly with increasing distance from the vortex centre. These differences help explain the formation of spiral arms and may improve models of atmospheric and oceanic currents. The findings have been published in Physical Review Fluids.
HSE Computer Science Researchers Win Gold Medal at International Machine Learning Competition
A team comprising HSE International Laboratory of Statistical and Computational Genomics researchers Aleksei Shmelev and Nikita Chervov, 2025 graduate of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science’s Master’s programme in Data Analysis in Biology and Medicine Ivan Gevorkov, and two students from the United States achieved an outstanding result at the 2026 NeuroGolf international machine learning championship. The team won a gold medal and placed seventh overall.