Bilingual language control: An event-related brain potential study

Abstract This study addressed how bilingual speakers switch between their first and second language when speaking. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and naming latencies were measured while unbalanced German (L1)–Dutch (L2) speakers performed a picture-naming task. Participants named pictures ei...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain research 2007-05, Vol.1147, p.192-208
Main Authors: Christoffels, Ingrid K, Firk, Christine, Schiller, Niels O
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Analysis of Variance
Behavioral psychophysiology
Bilingualism
Biological and medical sciences
Choice Behavior - physiology
Cognate status
Cognition - physiology
Discrimination (Psychology)
Electrophysiology
ERP
Evoked Potentials - physiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Inhibitory control
Language context
Language switching
Language Tests
Multilingualism
Neurology
Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Reaction Time - physiology
Reference Values
Verbal Behavior - physiology
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract This study addressed how bilingual speakers switch between their first and second language when speaking. Event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and naming latencies were measured while unbalanced German (L1)–Dutch (L2) speakers performed a picture-naming task. Participants named pictures either in their L1 or in their L2 (blocked language conditions), or participants switched between their first and second language unpredictably (mixed language condition). Furthermore, form similarity between translation equivalents (cognate status) was manipulated. A cognate facilitation effect was found for L1 and L2 indicating phonological activation of the non-response language in blocked and mixed language conditions. The ERP data also revealed small but reliable effects of cognate status. Language switching resulted in equal switching costs for both languages and was associated with a modulation in the ERP waveforms (time windows 275–375 ms and 375–475 ms). Mixed language context affected especially the L1, both in ERPs and in latencies, which became slower in L1 than L2. It is suggested that sustained and transient components of language control should be distinguished. Results are discussed in relation to current theories of bilingual language processing.
ISSN:0006-8993
1872-6240
DOI:10.1016/j.brainres.2007.01.137