The left-lateralized N170 for visual specialization in advanced L2 Chinese learners

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Second Language Acquisition
• Linguistic Psychology

Background:

• Visual word recognition is key for second language learners' (L2Ls) reading proficiency.
• The capacity for early visual processing of Chinese characters in L2Ls, particularly those from alphabetic script backgrounds, remains under-explored.
• Investigating L2Ls' visual specialization is crucial to understand if their Chinese word recognition can match native speakers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the visual specialization mechanisms in second language learners of Chinese.
• To determine if advanced L2Ls can process Chinese characters at an early visual stage.
• To compare the visual word recognition abilities of L2Ls with native Chinese speakers.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a delayed-color matching task to assess visual processing.
• Recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) to analyze brain activity.
• Compared brain responses between native Chinese speakers (L1Ss) and advanced Indonesian-native L2Ls.

Main Results:

• L2Ls demonstrated significant visual specialization in processing Chinese characters.
• A predominant left-lateralized N170 component was observed in L2Ls, similar to native speakers.
• Some right-hemisphere activation was also noted in L2Ls, suggesting a potential first language influence.

Conclusions:

• Advanced L2Ls exhibit early visual processing of Chinese characters comparable to native speakers.
• The visual specialization for Chinese characters in L2Ls is influenced by their native language and writing system.
• Findings suggest that L2Ls' early-stage Chinese character processing mirrors that of native adult speakers.