Selective Attention Measurement of Experienced Simultaneous Interpreters Using EEG Phase-Locked Response

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Linguistics

Background:

• Selective attention is crucial for simultaneous interpretation.
• The impact of experience on the neural mechanisms of selective attention in interpreters is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify electroencephalogram (EEG) signals related to selective attention in simultaneous interpreters.
• To investigate how years of simultaneous interpretation experience influence attention processing.

Main Methods:

• Participants were divided into expert (E group, >15 years) and beginner (B group, <1 year) simultaneous interpretation groups.
• EEG signals were analyzed using 40-Hz auditory steady-state response (40-Hz ASSR) and inter-trial coherence (ITC).
• Two conditions were compared: simultaneous interpretation (SI) and shadowing (SH).

Main Results:

• A significant interaction was found in ITC between years of SI experience and task type (SI vs. SH).
• This indicates that the duration of simultaneous interpretation experience modulates selective attention during interpretation tasks.

Conclusions:

• The number of years of simultaneous interpretation experience significantly influences selective attention.
• Neural measures like ITC can differentiate attention processing abilities based on interpreter experience.