Implicit In-Context Learning: Evidence from Artificial Language Experiments

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2503.24190v1
• Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:07:08 GMT
• Title: Implicit In-Context Learning: Evidence from Artificial Language Experiments
• Authors: Xiaomeng Ma, Qihui Xu,
• Abstract summary: Humans acquire language through implicit learning, absorbing complex patterns without explicit awareness.<n>We adapted three classic artificial language learning experiments spanning morphology, morphosyntax, and syntax to evaluate implicit learning at inferencing level.<n>Our results reveal linguistic domain-specific alignment between models and human behaviors.
• Score: 0.0
• License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Abstract: Humans acquire language through implicit learning, absorbing complex patterns without explicit awareness. While LLMs demonstrate impressive linguistic capabilities, it remains unclear whether they exhibit human-like pattern recognition during in-context learning at inferencing level. We adapted three classic artificial language learning experiments spanning morphology, morphosyntax, and syntax to systematically evaluate implicit learning at inferencing level in two state-of-the-art OpenAI models: gpt-4o and o3-mini. Our results reveal linguistic domain-specific alignment between models and human behaviors, o3-mini aligns better in morphology while both models align in syntax.

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