title: Input-based structure-specific proficiency predicts the neural mechanism of adult L2 syntactic processing.
abstract: This study used Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) to explore the role of input-based structure-specific proficiency in L2 syntactic processing, using English subject-verb agreement structures as the stimuli. A pre-test/trainings/post-test paradigm of experimental and control groups was employed, and Chinese speakers who learned English as a second language (L2) participated in the experiment. At pre-test, no ERP component related to the subject-verb agreement structures violations was observed in either group. At training session, the experimental group learned the subject-verb agreement structures, while the control group learned other syntactic structures. After two continuously intensive input trainings, at post-test, a significant P600 component related to the subject-verb agreement structures violations was elicited in the experimental group, but not in the control group. These findings suggest that input training improves structure-specific proficiency, which is reflected in the neural mechanism of L2 syntactic processing.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China.
authors.forename: Taiping
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Huixia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Behavioral Science, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Yan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Bi
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Applied Experimental Psychology, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: Chenbg@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Baoguo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007807:Language Tests; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008037:Linguistics; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Input training; Second language; Structure-specific proficiency