Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.

Bilingualism provides a unique opportunity for understanding the relative roles of proficiency and order of acquisition in determining how the brain represents language. In a previous study, we combined magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the spatiotemporal d...

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Main Authors: Matthew K Leonard, Christina Torres, Katherine E Travis, Timothy T Brown, Donald J Hagler, Anders M Dale, Jeffrey L Elman, Eric Halgren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2011-03-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018240&type=printable
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author Matthew K Leonard
Christina Torres
Katherine E Travis
Timothy T Brown
Donald J Hagler
Anders M Dale
Jeffrey L Elman
Eric Halgren
author_facet Matthew K Leonard
Christina Torres
Katherine E Travis
Timothy T Brown
Donald J Hagler
Anders M Dale
Jeffrey L Elman
Eric Halgren
author_sort Matthew K Leonard
collection DOAJ
description Bilingualism provides a unique opportunity for understanding the relative roles of proficiency and order of acquisition in determining how the brain represents language. In a previous study, we combined magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of word processing in a group of Spanish-English bilinguals who were more proficient in their native language. We found that from the earliest stages of lexical processing, words in the second language evoke greater activity in bilateral posterior visual regions, while activity to the native language is largely confined to classical left hemisphere fronto-temporal areas. In the present study, we sought to examine whether these effects relate to language proficiency or order of language acquisition by testing Spanish-English bilingual subjects who had become dominant in their second language. Additionally, we wanted to determine whether activity in bilateral visual regions was related to the presentation of written words in our previous study, so we presented subjects with both written and auditory words. We found greater activity for the less proficient native language in bilateral posterior visual regions for both the visual and auditory modalities, which started during the earliest word encoding stages and continued through lexico-semantic processing. In classical left fronto-temporal regions, the two languages evoked similar activity. Therefore, it is the lack of proficiency rather than secondary acquisition order that determines the recruitment of non-classical areas for word processing.
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spelling doaj-art-aabafb9b4104420684516104f5d615a02025-08-20T02:35:33ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032011-03-0163e1824010.1371/journal.pone.0018240Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.Matthew K LeonardChristina TorresKatherine E TravisTimothy T BrownDonald J HaglerAnders M DaleJeffrey L ElmanEric HalgrenBilingualism provides a unique opportunity for understanding the relative roles of proficiency and order of acquisition in determining how the brain represents language. In a previous study, we combined magnetoencephalography (MEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of word processing in a group of Spanish-English bilinguals who were more proficient in their native language. We found that from the earliest stages of lexical processing, words in the second language evoke greater activity in bilateral posterior visual regions, while activity to the native language is largely confined to classical left hemisphere fronto-temporal areas. In the present study, we sought to examine whether these effects relate to language proficiency or order of language acquisition by testing Spanish-English bilingual subjects who had become dominant in their second language. Additionally, we wanted to determine whether activity in bilateral visual regions was related to the presentation of written words in our previous study, so we presented subjects with both written and auditory words. We found greater activity for the less proficient native language in bilateral posterior visual regions for both the visual and auditory modalities, which started during the earliest word encoding stages and continued through lexico-semantic processing. In classical left fronto-temporal regions, the two languages evoked similar activity. Therefore, it is the lack of proficiency rather than secondary acquisition order that determines the recruitment of non-classical areas for word processing.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018240&type=printable
spellingShingle Matthew K Leonard
Christina Torres
Katherine E Travis
Timothy T Brown
Donald J Hagler
Anders M Dale
Jeffrey L Elman
Eric Halgren
Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.
PLoS ONE
title Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.
title_full Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.
title_fullStr Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.
title_full_unstemmed Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.
title_short Language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non-classical language areas in bilinguals.
title_sort language proficiency modulates the recruitment of non classical language areas in bilinguals
url https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0018240&type=printable
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