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Published on: August 12, 2019
A functional imaging study of translation and language switching
C J Price1, D W Green, R von Studnitz
1Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, Institute of Neurology and University College, London, UK. cprice@fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk
Brain : a Journal of Neurology
|December 3, 1999
Summary
This study used PET scans to explore how the brain handles language translation and switching in bilinguals. Findings suggest distinct neural mechanisms for translation versus language switching, impacting different brain regions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Bilingualism involves complex cognitive processes for managing multiple languages.
- Understanding the neural basis of language translation and switching is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distinct neural systems engaged during language translation and language switching in proficient bilinguals.
- To differentiate the brain activation patterns associated with translating between languages versus switching between them.
Main Methods:
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) was employed to scan proficient German-English bilingual adults.
- Participants performed tasks involving translation, reading in a single language (L1 or L2), and switching between languages (L1/L2).
Main Results:
- Translation tasks showed increased activation in the anterior cingulate and subcortical structures, alongside decreased activation in temporal and parietal language areas.
- Translation also increased activity in areas linked to articulation, such as the anterior insula, cerebellum, and supplementary motor area.
- Language switching specifically activated Broca's area and supramarginal gyri, regions associated with phonological recoding.
Conclusions:
- Neural mechanisms for translation and language switching appear to be at least partially independent.
- Cognitive control plays a significant role in managing these distinct language processes within the bilingual brain.
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