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Publication
Sequential and simultaneous bilingualism affect changes in non-verbal conflict processing in children’s brains over time: An fMRI study
Journal Contribution - Journal Article Conference Contribution
rbeek2, Johan De Mey2, Chris Baeken2
1 vrij Universiteit Brussel 2 UZ Brussel
Objective:
As one of the most prominent changes in cognitive function is the development of language in the first 2 decades of life, we hypothesized that the differences in linguistic skills would affect the general cognitive control in children. In our two year longitudinal fMRI study, the effect of bilingualism and the age and manner of 2nd language acquisition on neuro-maturation of cognitive control process was investigated in children's brain. Simultaneous and sequential bilinguals were compared to their monolingual peers in processing non-verbal conflicts in an fMRI study using a colour-Simon (stimulus-response) paradigm. Simultaneous-bilinguals acquired both languages from birth at home while Sequential bilinguals acquired the second language later at school. We expected that cognitive control tasks would be influenced by the level of language acquisition in children. Method:
40 children (with the initial age of 96-141 Months (113.5±10.5) and time interval of 19-27 months (22.3±2.3)) were scanned with a 3T MRI system (Philips Achieva Release 2.5), with an 8 channel SENSE head coil. 10 monolinguals, 16 sequential bilinguals and 14 simultaneous bilinguals were included.
A SE-EPI with 130 dynamics was used. (FOV: 212x230 mm2, matrix: 104x105, 22-4mm slices, TR: 3
In Simon task red or green squares were shown in a jittered event related design in two categories congruent (position and colour match) and incongruent (position and colour mismatch). The participants were instructed to press the right button for the red figure and the left button for the green.
Analysis
Data analysis was conducted based on a general linear model using SPM8 software (Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, London, UK). All functional volumes were realigned, normalized, smoothed (8mm FWHM). For each task, the BOLD signal was modelled by the HRF and its time derivative, including six motion parameters. The magnitude image was calculated based on the combination of basis functions for higher level analysis (Steffener 2010). A second-level analysis (repeated measures ANOVA) was performed with groups as between subject and runs as within- subject factors.
Conclusion:
Cognitive control processes are known to be mediated by the frontal and the temporal lobes. Cognitive functional development of parietal lobe matures by adolescence. Prefrontal cortex function, however, develops into adulthood. The decrease in the activation of language processing and general conflict processing areas might be related to a decreased recruitment of compensatory brain areas as the specialised cognitive control areas become more efficient with age and this process seems to have different rate between bilinguals and monolinguals. As we expected the language conflict resolving areas and also general conflict processing parts of the brain seemed to have specialized functions through development of the brain which leads to different activation patterns between the groups with different linguistic skills while solving conflict problems
1 vrij Universiteit Brussel 2 UZ Brussel
Objective:
As one of the most prominent changes in cognitive function is the development of language in the first 2 decades of life, we hypothesized that the differences in linguistic skills would affect the general cognitive control in children. In our two year longitudinal fMRI study, the effect of bilingualism and the age and manner of 2nd language acquisition on neuro-maturation of cognitive control process was investigated in children's brain. Simultaneous and sequential bilinguals were compared to their monolingual peers in processing non-verbal conflicts in an fMRI study using a colour-Simon (stimulus-response) paradigm. Simultaneous-bilinguals acquired both languages from birth at home while Sequential bilinguals acquired the second language later at school. We expected that cognitive control tasks would be influenced by the level of language acquisition in children. Method:
40 children (with the initial age of 96-141 Months (113.5±10.5) and time interval of 19-27 months (22.3±2.3)) were scanned with a 3T MRI system (Philips Achieva Release 2.5), with an 8 channel SENSE head coil. 10 monolinguals, 16 sequential bilinguals and 14 simultaneous bilinguals were included.
A SE-EPI with 130 dynamics was used. (FOV: 212x230 mm2, matrix: 104x105, 22-4mm slices, TR: 3
In Simon task red or green squares were shown in a jittered event related design in two categories congruent (position and colour match) and incongruent (position and colour mismatch). The participants were instructed to press the right button for the red figure and the left button for the green.
Analysis
Data analysis was conducted based on a general linear model using SPM8 software (Wellcome Department of Cognitive Neurology, London, UK). All functional volumes were realigned, normalized, smoothed (8mm FWHM). For each task, the BOLD signal was modelled by the HRF and its time derivative, including six motion parameters. The magnitude image was calculated based on the combination of basis functions for higher level analysis (Steffener 2010). A second-level analysis (repeated measures ANOVA) was performed with groups as between subject and runs as within- subject factors.
Conclusion:
Cognitive control processes are known to be mediated by the frontal and the temporal lobes. Cognitive functional development of parietal lobe matures by adolescence. Prefrontal cortex function, however, develops into adulthood. The decrease in the activation of language processing and general conflict processing areas might be related to a decreased recruitment of compensatory brain areas as the specialised cognitive control areas become more efficient with age and this process seems to have different rate between bilinguals and monolinguals. As we expected the language conflict resolving areas and also general conflict processing parts of the brain seemed to have specialized functions through development of the brain which leads to different activation patterns between the groups with different linguistic skills while solving conflict problems
Journal: Magma
ISSN: 0968-5243
Issue: ESMRMB October 2013
Volume: 1/1993
Pages: 230
Publication year:2013
Keywords:fMRI, Bilingualism