Native and non-native speech sound processing and the neural mismatch responses: A longitudinal study on classroom-based foreign language learning

Jost, Lea B.; Eberhard-Moscicka, Aleksandra K.; Pleisch, Georgette; Heusser, Veronica; Brandeis, Daniel; Zevin, Jason D.; Maurer, Urs (2015). Native and non-native speech sound processing and the neural mismatch responses: A longitudinal study on classroom-based foreign language learning. Neuropsychologia, 72, pp. 94-104. Elsevier 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.04.029

[img] Text
1-s2.0-S0028393215300105-main.pdf - Published Version
Restricted to registered users only
Available under License Publisher holds Copyright.

Download (3MB)

Learning a foreign language in a natural immersion context with high exposure to the new language has been shown to change the way speech sounds of that language are processed at the neural level. It remains unclear, however, to what extent this is also the case for classroom-based foreign language learning, particularly in children. To this end, we presented a mismatch negativity (MMN) experiment during EEG recordings as part of a longitudinal developmental study: 38 monolingual (Swiss-) German speaking children (7.5 years) were tested shortly before they started to learn English at school and followed up one year later. Moreover, 22 (Swiss-) German adults were recorded. Instead of the originally found positive mismatch response in children, an MMN emerged when applying a high-pass filter of 3 Hz. The overlap of a slow-wave positivity with the MMN indicates that two concurrent mismatch processes were elicited in children. The children’s MMN in response to the non-native speech contrast was smaller compared to the native speech contrast irrespective of foreign language learning, suggesting that no additional neural resources were committed to processing the foreign language speech sound after one year of classroom-based learning.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Head Organs and Neurology (DKNS) > Clinic of Neurology

UniBE Contributor:

Eberhard-Moscicka, Aleksandra Katarzyna

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0028-3932

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Angela Amira Botros

Date Deposited:

03 Oct 2019 09:32

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:28

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.04.029

PubMed ID:

25934634

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.130205

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/130205

Actions (login required)

Edit item Edit item
Provide Feedback