Neural specificity for semantic and syntactic processing in Spanish-English bilingual children

Abstract

Brain development for language processing is associated with neural specialization of left perisylvian pathways, but this has not been investigated in young bilinguals. We examined specificity for syntax and semantics in early exposed Spanish-English speaking children (N = 65, ages 7-11) using an auditory sentence judgement task in English, their dominant language of use. During functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), the morphosyntax task elicited activation in left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the semantic task elicited activation in left posterior middle temporal gyrus (MTG). Task comparisons revealed specialization in left superior temporal (STG) for morphosyntax and left MTG and angular gyrus for semantics. Although skills in neither language were uniquely related to specialization, skills in both languages were related to engagement of the left MTG for semantics and left IFG for syntax. These results are consistent with models suggesting a positive cross-linguistic interaction in those with higher language proficiency.

Keywords: Bilingualism; Brain; Language; Semantics; Syntax.

Figure 1.

A shows the probeset with light sources in red and detectors in blue. Patterns of brain activation for the within-tasks contrasts are shown in C and D. Patterns of brain activation for the between-tasks contrast is shown in B. Results shown are at p<.05 corrected.