An ERP investigation of masked cross-script translation priming

Abstract

The time course of cross-script translation priming and repetition priming was examined in two different scripts using a combination of the masked priming paradigm with the recording of event-related potentials (ERPs). Japanese-English bilinguals performed a semantic categorization task in their second language (L2) English and in their first language (L1) Japanese. Targets were preceded by a visually presented related (translation equivalent/repeated) or unrelated prime. The results showed that the amplitudes of the N250 and N400 ERP components were significantly modulated for L2-L2 repetition priming, L1-L2 translation priming, and L1-L1 repetition priming, but not for L2-L1 translation priming. There was also evidence for priming effects in an earlier 100-200 ms time window for L1-L1 repetition priming and L1-L2 translation priming. We argue that a change in script across primes and targets provides optimal conditions for prime word processing, hence generating very fast-acting translation priming effects when primes are in L1.

Figures 1

(A) ERPs from all 29 scalp channels time-locked to the onset of L2 English targets in the repeated (solid) and unrelated (dotted) conditions. (B) blowup of the CP1 site from 1A. Note that the relative timing of the prime (P) and target (T) are noted on the time scale x-axis.

Figures 2

(A) ERPs from all scalp sites time-locked to the onset of the L2 English targets when primes were L1 Japanese words. The solid line is the related condition (L1 and L2 were translation equivalent words) and the dotted line is unrelated L1 and L2 words. (B) a blowup of the CP1 site from 2A.

Figures 3

(A) ERPs from all 29 scalp sites time-locked to the onset of L1 Japanese targets in the repeated (solid) and unrelated (dotted) conditions when primes were L1 Japanese words. (B) a blowup of the O2 and CP1 sites from 3A.

Figures 4

(A) ERPs from all scalp sites time-locked to the onset of the L1 Japanese targets when primes were L2 English words. The solid line is the related condition (L1 and L2 were translation equivalent words) and the dotted line is unrelated L1 and L2 words. (B) a blowup of the CP1 site from 4A.

Figure 5

Voltage maps for L2 primes - L2 targets, L1 primes - L2 targets, L1 primes - L1 targets, and L2 primes - L1 targets at (A) 150 ms, (B) 250 ms, and (C) 500 ms post-target onset, resulting from the subtraction of repeated/related from unrelated ERPs.

Figure 5

Voltage maps for L2 primes - L2 targets, L1 primes - L2 targets, L1 primes - L1 targets, and L2 primes - L1 targets at (A) 150 ms, (B) 250 ms, and (C) 500 ms post-target onset, resulting from the subtraction of repeated/related from unrelated ERPs.

Figure 5

Voltage maps for L2 primes - L2 targets, L1 primes - L2 targets, L1 primes - L1 targets, and L2 primes - L1 targets at (A) 150 ms, (B) 250 ms, and (C) 500 ms post-target onset, resulting from the subtraction of repeated/related from unrelated ERPs.

Figure 6

Illustration of a trial in the go/no-go semantic categorization task.

Figure 7

Electrode montage and the four analysis columns used in the present study.