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Representation of multiple
languages in human brain
Staudacher Veronika
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Presented Paper
Kim, Relkin, Lee, Hirsch. (1997) Distinct cortical areas
associated with native and second languages.
Nature ,vol. 338: p. 171
174.
Research at the Department of Neurology and
Neuroscience, Cornell University Medical College,
New York
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Overview
Methods of investigation
a) Imaging
b) Analysis and subjects (test persons)
c) Task
Results of representation in brain areas of
a) native language
b) second language (early & late bilinguals)
Summary and Conclusions
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Method of investigation
fMRI: 1.5-tesla magnetic resonance
scanner, with fixed head position
16 slices of brain (4.5 - 4.7 mm )
Areas of interest:* the inferior frontal gyrus (=anteriorlanguage region; Brocas area incl.
Brodmanns 44 +46)
* the superior temporal gyrus
(=posterior language region; Wernickesarea incl. Brodmanns 22)
30 images, one every 3 sec., 10 during
baseline period, 10 during a stimulation or task period, 10
baseline again
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Analysis and Subjects
2 identical runs with each language, native and a secondlanguage
Statistical analyses of changing signals between baseline and
stimulation periods
12 healthy multilingual volunteers, 9 male, 3 females
Right-handed or ambidextrous
Mean age 29.3 years
6 early bilinguals (parents speak one language, kids& friendsanother one, or parents spoke 2 languages)
6 late bilinguals (L2 in early adulthood, 11.2 years, lived in
country of L2)
Alltogether 10 languages represented, equal fluency
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Task
Persons were prepared before starting
Describe events of the previous day (morning,
afternoon, nightsignals were taken)
Sentences had to be generated silently (internal
speech) to avoid head movement
Briefing before task in which language the person
should be speaking silently, because Languages were altered during session to avoid
habituation
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Results
Focus of observations on Brocas and Wernickes
areas, axial slice
Typical late bilingual: anterior language
area (Inferior frontal gyrus, Brodmanns 44)green box:red: significant activity during native
language (Engl.)
yellow: activity during second
language (French)
2 centers of activation(+), separated
7.9 mm
Result: 2 separated areas for each language
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Results
Late bilinguals: distinct areas of activation in Brocas
area (anterior) for different languages
Examples of bilinguals:
red: significant activity during native language
yellow: activity during second language
2 centers of activation(+)
various distances according to language
combinations
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Results
Late bilingual: posterior language area (superior temporalgyrus, Brodmanns 22)
green box:
red: significant activity during
native language (Engl.)yellow: activity during second
language (French)
orange: common area for native
and second language
2 centers of activation(+),
separated only 1.1 mm
Result: similar or identical
cortical regions serve
both languages
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Results
Early bilingual (e.g. English, Turkish): : in posterior
language area (superior temporal gyrus, Brodmanns 22)
green box
red: significant activity Turkish language task
yellow: activity English language task
orange: common voxels for both languages
2 centers of activation(+), separated only 2.3 mm,
within
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Results
Result: Late acquisition of L2 = tendency of spatially distinction in Brocas area,
little or no separation in Wernickes area (be it early or late acquisition)
Late bilinguals Early bilinguals
Brocas Area:
Mean distance of
center-of-mass
6.43 mm 1.53 mm
Number of voxels Equal for each
language,separated
multiple common
voxels
Wernickes area:
Mean distance of
center-of-mass
1.95 mm 1.58 mm
Number of voxels Different for each language
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Conclusions
Age of language acquisiton may be a significant factor for the
functional organization in brain.
Children can discriminate all phonetical differences at the
beginning of their life, but then may adapt the acoustic space
in brain to their native languages.
Adjacent cortical areas are used for second language learning
as an adult.
The younger a child, when learning a second language, the
less distinction in brain (PET study: average age 7.9 years).
Further questions rise concerning Brocas role in processing
the phonetic structure of different languages.
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Thank you!
