Exploring cross-linguistic vocabulary effects on brain structures using voxel-based morphometry.

Bilingualism : Language and Cognition
David W GreenCathy J Price

Abstract

Given that there are neural markers for the acquisition of a non-verbal skill, we review evidence of neural markers for the acquisition of vocabulary. Acquiring vocabulary is critical to learning one's native language and to learning other languages. Acquisition requires the ability to link an object concept (meaning) to sound. Is there a region sensitive to vocabulary knowledge? For monolingual English speakers, increased vocabulary knowledge correlates with increased grey matter density in a region of the parietal cortex that is well-located to mediate an association between meaning and sound (the posterior supramarginal gyrus). Further this region also shows sensitivity to acquiring a second language. Relative to monolingual English speakers, Italian-English bilinguals show increased grey matter density in the same region.Differences as well as commonalities might exist in the neural markers for vocabulary where lexical distinctions are also signalled by tone. Relative to monolingual English, Chinese multilingual speakers, like European multilinguals, show increased grey matter density in the parietal region observed previously. However, irrespective of ethnicity, Chinese speakers (both Asian and European) also show highly s...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 21, 2013·Annual Review of Psychology·Heejung S Kim, Joni Y Sasaki
May 21, 2013·Brain Structure & Function·Miguel BurgaletaNúria Sebastián-Gallés
Sep 11, 2013·NeuroImage·Lorna García-PentónManuel Carreiras
May 4, 2010·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·Michael Wei Liang CheeBradley P Sutton
Jul 1, 2010·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Denise C Park, Chih-Mao Huang
Oct 3, 2018·Child's Nervous System : ChNS : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery·Claudia CortiGeraldina Poggi

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