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Shared and separate systems in bilingual language processing: converging evidence from eyetracking and brain imaging
Viorica Marian1, Michael Spivey, Joy Hirsch
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208-3570, USA. v-marian@northwestern.edu
Brain and Language
|June 25, 2003
Summary
Late bilinguals activate both languages simultaneously during early word recognition. Brain imaging reveals shared and distinct neural areas for processing Russian and English, suggesting stage-specific brain organization.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of bilingual language processing is crucial for cognitive science.
- Previous research suggests both shared and distinct neural representations for multiple languages in the brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neurological and cognitive mechanisms of late Russian-English bilingual language processing.
- To examine the temporal dynamics and neural correlates of word recognition in bilingual individuals.
Main Methods:
- Utilized headband-mounted eyetracking across three studies to assess early word recognition stages.
- Employed functional neuroimaging (fMRI) to identify brain structures involved in processing both languages.
- Analyzed activation patterns within specific brain regions like the Inferior Frontal Gyrus and Superior Temporal Gyrus.
Main Results:
- Eyetracking data indicated parallel activation of both Russian and English during early word recognition, irrespective of input language.
- fMRI revealed shared cortical structures for both languages, but with language-specific activation differences, particularly in the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus.
- Distinct activation centers were observed for first versus second language processing within the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus, but not the Superior Temporal Gyrus.
Conclusions:
- Parallel language activation and shared cortical structures may characterize early language processing stages (e.g., phonetic processing).
- Later processing stages (e.g., lexical processing) might involve separate neural structures for each language in bilinguals.
- Findings suggest a dynamic interplay between shared and distinct neural mechanisms supporting bilingual language processing across different levels.
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