Individual Differences in Audio-Vocal Speech Imitation Aptitude in Late Bilinguals: Functional Neuro-Imaging and Brain Morphology
Individual Differences in Audio-Vocal Speech Imitation Aptitude in Late Bilinguals: Functional Neuro-Imaging and Brain Morphology
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晚期双语者视听言语模仿能力的个体差异：功能神经成像和大脑形态学
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发表时间：
2011
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通讯作者：
H. Ackermann
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作者：
S. Reiterer;Xiaochen Hu;M. Erb;G. Rota;D. Nardo;W. Grodd;S. Winkler;H. Ackermann
在成人语言学习或后期双语和多语学习中有一个尚未回答的问题，那就是为什么个体在模仿外国口音的能力上表现出明显的差异。虽然最近的研究承认，比以前假设的更多的成年人仍然可以获得“本土”外国口音，但对这种特殊能力的神经认知相关性知之甚少。我们调查了140个讲德语的人显示不同程度的“模仿”能力，基于自然语言的文本，句子和单词的模仿，无论是在他们的第二语言英语或印地语和泰米尔语，他们从来没有接触过的语言。在磁共振成像之前，严格控制大型受试者库的既往语言经验。晚发型（约10年）双语者表现出显着的个体差异，他们如何使用他们的左半球的语言区域：较高的血流动力学激活在一个独特的额顶叶网络伴随着低能力，而高能力增强灰质体积在这些地区伴随着降低血流动力学反应。最后，出乎意料的是，男性被发现更有天赋的外国语言模仿。
An unanswered question in adult language learning or late bi and multilingualism is why individuals show marked differences in their ability to imitate foreign accents. While recent research acknowledges that more adults than previously assumed can still acquire a “native” foreign accent, very little is known about the neuro-cognitive correlates of this special ability. We investigated 140 German-speaking individuals displaying varying degrees of “mimicking” capacity, based on natural language text, sentence, and word imitations either in their second language English or in Hindi and Tamil, languages they had never been exposed to. The large subject pool was strictly controlled for previous language experience prior to magnetic resonance imaging. The late-onset (around 10 years) bilinguals showed significant individual differences as to how they employed their left-hemisphere speech areas: higher hemodynamic activation in a distinct fronto-parietal network accompanied low ability, while high ability paralleled enhanced gray matter volume in these areas concomitant with decreased hemodynamic responses. Finally and unexpectedly, males were found to be more talented foreign speech mimics.