The time course of brain activity in reading English and Chinese: An ERP study of Chinese bilinguals

Abstract

Abstract:Chinese bilinguals performed a delayed naming task, reading both Chinese characters and English words, while EEGs were recorded by a 128-channel system. Principle component analysis (PCA) of Event Related Potentials (ERP) from the onset of the stimulus suggested a temporal unfolding of graphic, phonological, and semantic processing that depended on both language and word frequency. At 150 msec, Chinese produced an earlier and higher amplitude shift (N150) than English. At 250 msec, frequency effects were significant for both Chinese and English, but at 450 msec, only the English frequency effect was reliable. Source localization analysis by Low Resolution Electromagnetic Tomography (LORETA) showed bilateral occipital (left BA 17, right BA 18) visual processing of Chinese characters with left occipital only (left BA 17) for English high-frequency words. Low-frequency English words showed activation bilaterally, but with a more diffused and extended temporal pattern. Right prefrontal area (BA 10) was found to be strongly activated in the mid latency (300 -400 msec) period of Chinese character naming, whereas English word naming showed more medial frontal (BA 8, and 10) activation. A post 450-msec visual verification was found to be general for both writing systems. Hum. Brain Mapping 18:167-175, 2003.

Writing affects the brain network of reading in Chinese: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study

“…stroke patterns) orthographic processing. As suggested by Liu and Perfetti (2003), the right hemisphere, responding to low spatial frequencies, may be important in identifying the spatial configuration of radicals [Liu and Perfetti, 2003]. The fact that learners as well as L1 Chinese readers show this pattern, suggest that this right hemisphere involvement reflects a relatively rapid accommodation to the specific graphic demands of the writing system .…”

Neural bases of asymmetric language switching in second-language learners: An ER-fMRI study

“…One previous study found that Chinese phonological processing activated bilateral thalamus, cerebellum, occipital lobe, and lingual gyrus (Kuo et al, 2004). Other studies also found that the right visual system (BA17/18/19) was involved in reading Chinese relative to reading English (Liu and Perfetti, 2003;Tan et al, 2001). These patterns of activations for Chinese processing may have been linked to the logographic nature of Chinese characters (thus the right visual systems) and Chinese phonological processing or orthography-phonology transformation (OPT).…”

Attention Modulates Initial Stages of Visual Word Processing

“…Later, neuronal responses occur in other, specialized brain areas where the meanings, sounds, and contexts of words are computed. Areas showing language-relevant functional specialization include the superior temporal and basal temporal cortex, posterior middle temporal cortex, supramarginal gyrus, and multiple aspects of the inferior frontal gyrus (see Hauk, Davis, Ford, Pulvermuller, & Marslen-Wilson, 2006;Holcomb & Grainger, 2006;Salmelin & Kujala, 2006;Liu & Perfetti, 2003;Dale et al, 2000). Thus, it seems that the brain initially processes the physical characteristics of the stimuli and then progressively accesses orthographic, phonological, and semantic codes of the words (Hauk et al, 2006;Holcomb & Grainger, 2006;Liu & Perfetti, 2003).…”