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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) of Wernicke's and Broca's Areas in Studies of Language Learning and Word Acquisition
Published on: July 13, 2019
Sustained and transient language control in the bilingual brain.
Yapeng Wang1, Patricia K Kuhl, Chunhui Chen
1State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.
Neuroimage
|January 27, 2009
Summary
Bilinguals use distinct brain regions for sustained language control and transient language switching. These neural patterns influence behavioral costs in managing multiple languages.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Psycholinguistics
Background:
- Bilingual speakers require robust neural mechanisms for managing multiple languages.
- The specific neural components underlying bilingual language control remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sustained and transient neural control of two languages during language processing in bilingual individuals.
- To differentiate the brain activation patterns associated with sustained versus transient bilingual language control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a mixed blocked and event-related fMRI design.
- Examined 15 Chinese-English bilingual speakers performing language switching tasks.
- Analyzed brain activation in single language, mixed language, and language switching conditions.
Main Results:
- Sustained bilingual control (mixed language) activated bilateral inferior frontal, middle prefrontal, and frontal gyri (BA 45/46).
- Transient bilingual control (language switching) activated left inferior parietal lobule (BA 2/40), superior parietal lobule (BA 7), and middle frontal gyrus (BA 11/46).
- Parietal lobe activity correlated with behavioral mixing and switching costs.
Conclusions:
- Sustained and transient language control involve distinct lateralized brain activation patterns.
- Neural activity in sustained and transient language control modulates behavioral costs during language switching.
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