Age of second language acquisition affects nonverbal conflict processing in children: an fMRI study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In their daily communication, bilinguals switch between two languages, a process that involves the selection of a target language and minimization of interference from a nontarget language. Previous studies have uncovered the neural structure in bilinguals and the activation patterns associated with performing verbal conflict tasks. One question that remains, however is whether this extra verbal switching affects brain function during nonverbal conflict tasks.

Methods

In this study, we have used fMRI to investigate the impact of bilingualism in children performing two nonverbal tasks involving stimulus-stimulus and stimulus-response conflicts. Three groups of 8-11-year-old children--bilinguals from birth (2L1), second language learners (L2L), and a control group o

SUBMITTER: Mohades SG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4107382 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature