Non-target language processing in Chinese-English bilinguals: a study of event-related potential.
The event-related brain potential (ERP) technique was used to investigate the neural mechanism of non-target language processing in Chinese-English bilinguals. Participants were presented with a mixed list of Chinese and English words and required to make conceptual decisions for words in one language and ignore words in the other non-target language. Regardless of whether the nontarget word was in Chinese or English, the ERPs they elicited were modulated by word frequency, suggesting that their meaning had been accessed. The N400 peak was delayed in the English as the non-target language condition, probably because participants were less proficient in English. The results suggest that the non-target language can be processed during conceptual tasks with participants' proficiency in this language being a critical factor.
South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
Li
L
Li
Meng
M
Fan
Bing
B
Sun
Ruiming
R
Wang
Lei
L
Mo
John Xuexin
JX
Zhang
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D002681:China; D003657:Decision Making; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult