title: Past experience shapes ongoing neural patterns for language.
abstract: Early experiences may establish a foundation for later learning, however, influences of early language experience on later neural processing are unknown. We investigated whether maintenance of neural templates from early language experience influences subsequent language processing. Using fMRI, we scanned the following three groups performing a French phonological working memory (PWM) task: (1) monolingual French children; (2) children adopted from China before age 3 who discontinued Chinese and spoke only French; (3) Chinese-speaking children who learned French as a second language but maintained Chinese. Although all groups perform this task equally well, brain activation differs. French monolinguals activate typical PWM brain regions, while both Chinese-exposed groups also activate regions implicated in cognitive control, even the adoptees who were monolingual French speakers at testing. Early exposure to a language, and/or delayed exposure to a subsequent language, continues to influence the neural processing of subsequently learned language sounds years later even in highly proficient, early-exposed users.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr Penfield, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1B1.|Centre for Research on Brain, Language, and Music, Rabinovitch House, McGill University, 3640 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G 2A8.
authors.forename: Lara J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Pierce
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychology/Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute, 3801 Rue University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4.
authors.forename: Jen-Kai
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr Penfield, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1B1.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Delcenserie
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr Penfield, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 1B1.|Centre for Research on Brain, Language, and Music, Rabinovitch House, McGill University, 3640 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G 2A8.
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Genesee
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Brain, Language, and Music, Rabinovitch House, McGill University, 3640 Rue de la Montagne, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3G 2A8.|Neuropsychology/Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute, 3801 Rue University, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 2B4.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007804:Language Development; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D011859:Radiography