title: Near-infrared-spectroscopic study on processing of sounds in the brain; a comparison between native and non-native speakers of Japanese.
abstract: Conclusions The result suggested that mother tongue Japanese and non- mother tongue Japanese differ in their pattern of brain dominance when listening to sounds from the natural world-in particular, insect sounds. These results reveal significant support for previous findings from Tsunoda (in 1970). Objectives This study concentrates on listeners who show clear evidence of a 'speech' brain vs a 'music' brain and determines which side is most active in the processing of insect sounds, using with near-infrared spectroscopy. Methods The present study uses 2-channel Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to provide a more direct measure of left- and right-brain activity while participants listen to each of three types of sounds: Japanese speech, Western violin music, or insect sounds. Data were obtained from 33 participants who showed laterality on opposite sides for Japanese speech and Western music. Results Results showed that a majority (80%) of the MJ participants exhibited dominance for insect sounds on the side that was dominant for language, while a majority (62%) of the non-MJ participants exhibited dominance for insect sounds on the side that was dominant for music.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Artificial Organs and Medical Creations , National Hospital Organization, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsunoda
authors.affiliation: a Department of Artificial Organs and Medical Creations , National Hospital Organization, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Sotaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sekimoto
authors.affiliation: a Department of Artificial Organs and Medical Creations , National Hospital Organization, National Institute of Sensory Organs, National Tokyo Medical Center , Tokyo , Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain dominance; Japanese brain; Japanese language; Tsunoda’s Theory; mother tongue; near-infrared spectroscopy; speech and hearing