Second-language proficiency modulates the brain language control network in bilingual translators: an event-related fMRI study

In bilinguals, language proficiency has been advanced to influence the involvement of domain-general control networks in language selection. We assessed, in university student translators with moderate- to high-second language (L2) proficiency depending on their translation educational level, the fu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bilingualism (Cambridge, England) England), 2020-03, Vol.23 (2), p.251-264
Main Authors: Mouthon, Michael, Khateb, Asaid, Lazeyras, François, Pegna, Alan J., Lee-Jahnke, Hannelore, Lehr, Caroline, Annoni, Jean-Marie
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aphasia
Bilingualism
Brain
Brain Hemisphere Functions
Cognitive Processes
College students
Educational attainment
Functional magnetic resonance imaging
Interpreters
Language proficiency
Language thought relationship
Linguistics
Networks
Semantics
Short Term Memory
Studies
Translation instruction
Translators
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Summary:In bilinguals, language proficiency has been advanced to influence the involvement of domain-general control networks in language selection. We assessed, in university student translators with moderate- to high-second language (L2) proficiency depending on their translation educational level, the functional activity in the key language and control areas (the caudate nucleus, anterior cingulate, and prefrontal cortex), during task- and language-selection in an oral production context. We found that L2 proficiency influenced the relative involvement of our regions of interest during language selection vs domain-general cognitive control processes. While the left middle frontal and left caudate areas were more involved during linguistic than alphanumeric task selection in the low L2 proficiency group, these regions were similarly involved in both tasks in the high-L2 proficiency group. These findings suggest that language selection relies primarily on a network within domain-general cognitive control system with an increase in resource needs when L2 proficiency is low.
ISSN:1366-7289
1469-1841
DOI:10.1017/S1366728918001141