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NCCIC Library
Inferring Native Language from Early Bio-electrical Activity
By Roberta Adorni, Proverbio Alice Mado, Alberto Zani
Biological Psychology, 2, 6;
February
19,
2008, p.1-12
Summary: This study explored the timing of brain activation during processing of native versus later-acquired languages in simultaneous interpreters. Data show a clear-cut difference between native and foreign languages in a silent letter detection task not requiring semantic processing. Although interpreters were equally proficient in L1 (Italian) and L2 (English), only L1 showed early lexical effects at occipito/temporal sites at about 150-180 ms. The finding that only L1 words were discriminated from pseudo-wards at the earliest processing stage suggests a faster/more efficient access to lexicon for L1 than for later-acquired languages, regardless of proficiency.
Index Terms: Brain Development, Child Development, Language Development, Research Reports, National Institute On Child Health And Human Development (NICHD)
Publisher: Elsevier Press
Publication Type: Journal Articles
Pages: 12 pages
Language: English
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