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. 2024 Mar 24;14(4):268.
doi: 10.3390/bs14040268.

The Role of the Motor System in L1 and L2 Action Verb Processing for Chinese Learners of English: Evidence from Mu Rhythm Desynchronization

Yuqing Zhang  1 , Shifa Chen  1 , Yule Peng  1 , Xin Yang  1 , Junjie Yang  1
Affiliations

The Role of the Motor System in L1 and L2 Action Verb Processing for Chinese Learners of English: Evidence from Mu Rhythm Desynchronization

Yuqing Zhang et al. Behav Sci (Basel). .

Abstract

The nature of semantic representation has long been a key question in linguistic research. The Embodied Cognition theory challenges the traditional view of language representation, stating that semantic information stems from the sensory-motor cortex, which is activated automatically during semantic processing. However, most of the evidence comes from monolingual studies; it remains unclear whether second-language (L2) comprehension involves different semantic representations or mirrors the pattern seen in first-language (L1) processing. Therefore, the present study investigated the role of the sensory-motor system in language processing via making Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings during the processing of L1 and L2 action verbs. The results showed that L1 (Chinese) action verbs generated higher mu-event-related desynchronization (ERD) than L1 abstract verbs in the early processing stage (250 ms after verb presentation), and the same phenomenon was also observed for L2 (English). The results also indicated that language modulated the processing of action verbs, with L1 action verbs eliciting stronger ERD than L2 action verbs. These results demonstrate that the sensory-motor cortex plays a crucial role in comprehending both L1 and L2 action verbs.

Keywords: Mu rhythm; embodied cognition; event-related desynchronization (ERD); motor system; second-language processing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time–frequency representation (relative to 200 ms before verb presentation) for the different experimental conditions and the three main comparisons. This figure shows the TF analysis results: The leftmost and middle columns show the mean TF representations of the L1 action verbs, L1 abstract verbs, L2 action verbs, and L2 abstract verbs for the selected electrodes throughout the sensorimotor cortex (Cz, C3, and C4) in a frequency range of 0–25 Hz. The processing of L1 and L2 action verbs elicited great suppression of mu rhythms in the time window of 250–800 ms after verb presentation. The rightmost column shows the differences between L1 action verbs and L1 abstract verbs, L2 action verbs and L2 abstract verbs, and L1 action verbs and L2 action verbs.
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