Research article summary (published 29 Apr 2004):

Mapping of verbal working memory in nonfluent Chinese-English bilinguals with functional MRI.

Full Abstract

Existing cognitive and neural imaging studies have suggested a frontoparietal network of multiple, cooperative components for verbal working memory (WM). We used functional MRI to investigate whether this neural network is also involved in the processing of second language by nonfluent bilinguals. Twelve (five males, seven females) native Chinese speakers who had limited English proficiency were scanned while performing working memory tasks in Chinese and English. They were asked to make judgment continuously whether the word presented on the screen was semantically related to (i.e., the semantic tasks) another word presented two words earlier. On a different task (i.e., the phonological tasks), they were asked to make judgment whether the target word rhymed with the other word. A naming and judgment task in each language was adopted to control for the visual process, initial lexical process, and motor responses. Behavioral data showed that subjects performed better at tasks in their native language (Chinese, L1) than in English (L2). Imaging results showed that all working memory tasks in both L1 and L2 elicited a very similar pattern of left-hemisphere-dominated activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, pars opercularis region, pars triangularis region, precentral cortex, and parietal lobule. Consistent with the behavioral data, the volume of activation in the left opercularis region, left parietal lobule, and right precentral region was greater for L2 than for L1. These results suggest that working memory in L1 and L2 is mediated by a unitary neural system (i.e., frontoparietal region), which is capable of recruiting surrounding cortical resources to meet the increased computational demand caused by low L2 proficiency.

Author information

Author/s: Xue, Gui (G); Dong, Qi (Q); Jin, Zhen (Z); Chen, Chuansheng (C);

Affiliation: Institute of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, School of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: NeuroImage (Neuroimage), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2004-May; vol 22 (issue 1) : pp 1-10

Dates: Created 2004/04/27; Completed 2004/06/18; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 15109992, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Adult Brain - physiology Brain Mapping Cognition - physiology Female Humans Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted

Language Magnetic Resonance Imaging Male Memory - physiology Psycholinguistics Psychomotor Performance - physiology Verbal Learning - physiology

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Related articles

These are the most related articles currently in our database:

• The brain network associated with acquiring semantic knowledge. 29 Apr 2004
• Working memory load in the initial learning phase facilitates relearning: a study of vocabulary learning. 30 Jan 2008
• Watching the brain during meaning acquisition. 18 Oct 2006
• Components of verbal working memory: evidence from neuroimaging. Feb 1998
• Long-range EEG synchronization during word encoding correlates with successful memory performance. 30 May 2000
• Thyroid function, depressed mood, and cognitive performance in older individuals: the Maastricht Aging Study. 30 Jul 2004
• Brain regions associated with acquisition and retrieval of verbal episodic memory. 12 Apr 1994
• Indirect influence of modality on direct memory for words and their modality: closed-head-injured and control participants. 29 Sep 1997
• Indirect measures of memory in a duration-judgement task are normal in amnesic patients. 30 Dec 1990
• Neuromagnetic evidence for early access to cognitive representations. 10 Feb 2001

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a larger map of 100+ related articles.