Brain functional plasticity associated with the emergence of expertise in extreme language control

Abstract

We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to longitudinally examine brain plasticity arising from long-term, intensive simultaneous interpretation training. Simultaneous interpretation is a bilingual task with heavy executive control demands. We compared brain responses observed during simultaneous interpretation with those observed during simultaneous speech repetition (shadowing) in a group of trainee simultaneous interpreters, at the beginning and at the end of their professional training program. Age, sex and languageproficiency matched controls were scanned at similar intervals. Using multivariate pattern classification, we found distributed patterns of changes in functional responses from the first to second scan that distinguished the interpreters from the controls. We also found reduced recruitment of the right caudate nucleus during simultaneous interpretation as a result of training. Such practice-related change is consistent with decreased demands on multilingual language control as the task becomes more automatized with practice. These results demonstrate the impact of simultaneous interpretation training on the brain functional response in a cerebral structure that is not specifically linguistic, but that is known to be involved in learning, in motor control, and in a variety of domain-general executive functions. Along with results of recent studies showing functional and structural adaptations in the caudate nuclei of experts in a broad range of domains, our results underline the importance of this structure as a central node in expertise-related networks.

Bilingualism at the core of the brain. Structural differences between bilinguals and monolinguals revealed by subcortical shape analysis

“…Simultaneous interpretation studies have also highlighted the role of right-lateralized caudate activity (Hervais-Adelman, Moser-Mercer and Golestani 2015;Hervais-Adelman et al 2014) and morphology (Elmer et al, 2011), in line with studies using translation tasks (Abutalebi and Green, 2007;Price et al, 1999). Whereas other studies highlight the role of the left caudate nucleus in language control and language switching in bilinguals Abutalebi, Miozzo, Cappa 2000;Abutalebi et al 2007b;Crinion et al 2006;Garbin et al 2010;Wang et al 2007Wang et al , 2009, it seems that left caudate is recruited mainly during initial stages of L2 acquisition (Abutalebi and Green 2007;Indefrey 2006) and when switching to the least proficient language (Abutalebi et al 2013).…”

Cognate effects and cognitive control in patients with parallel and differential bilingual aphasia

“…3 The insular lobe serves as a crucial region that mediates language function and has been found to be implicated in receptive language, expressive language and language production (Oh et al 2014). Interestingly for the present study, the insula is also involved in extreme language control, as it occurs for instance in simultaneous interpreting (e.g., Hervais-Adelman et al 2015). This is consistent with the present hypothesis that explains differential aphasia in terms of impaired language control.…”

“…Interestingly for the present study, the insula is also involved in extreme language control, as it occurs for instance in simultaneous interpreting (e.g., Hervais‐Adelman et al . ). This is consistent with the present hypothesis that explains differential aphasia in terms of impaired language control.…”

Short-Term Memory Improvement After Simultaneous Interpretation Training

“…Thus, training in simultaneous interpretation, which places high demands on memory and other executive control processes, may lead to the enhancement of specific processes. Indeed, a recent longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study found a decrease in activation during interpretation in the caudate nuclei, which support executive functions, after training (Hervais-Adelman et al 2015). If SI training is also responsible for cognitive changes, it could represent an opportunity to understand how an extraordinarily demanding profession may shape human cognition naturalistically.…”