Is word perception in a second language more vulnerable than in one's native language? Evidence from brain potentials in a dual task setting.
We assessed the effect of additional tasks on language perception in second-language and native speakers. The N400 component of the event-related potential was recorded to spoken nouns that had to be judged for synonymity with a preceding word, while additional choice responses were required to visual stimuli. In both participant groups N400 was delayed as a function of temporal overlap with the additional task. In second-language speakers there was a global delay of N400 independent of additional task load and a decrease of accuracy at highest overlap. These findings are interpreted within a single channel account of language perception.
Hohlfeld
Annette
A
Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-University at Berlin, Berlin, Germany. annette.hohlfeld@cms.hu-berlin.de
Mierke
Karsten
K
Sommer
Werner
W
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D019303:Multilingualism; D011930:Reaction Time; D012426:Russia / Q000208:ethnology; D012660:Semantics; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*