Exploring individual differences in language processing using behavioral and electrophysiological methods

语言能力的个体差异往往被科学研究所忽视。然而，对语言处理的全面描述既需要考虑共性，也需要考虑个体差异。我的研究的长期目标是提供语言处理中个体差异的神经认知机制的详细说明。这个帐户将解释如何语言特定的（例如，词汇知识）和通用领域（例如，工作记忆）机制有助于语言处理中的个体差异。它将建立语言行为和大脑反应之间的联系。最后，它将适用于具有不同语言特征的人口。 使用一些创新的方法论方法，并坚持可重复和透明科学的现行标准，我将追求以下短期目标。目标1是评估语言处理的几种行为和电生理测量的可靠性和稳定性。在进一步的研究中，发现在个体内稳定的措施将被用作个体表现的指标。目的2是将感兴趣区域的功能定位技术推进到电生理学领域。这种创新的方法论方法将使我能够解释个体大脑中专门用于语言的功能区位置的变化。在目标3中，我将探讨在语言处理过程中，3个具有不同语言特征的人群的行为和神经反应的个体间差异：（i）单语者，（ii）双语者，和（iii）自闭症谱系障碍（ASD），一个以语言处理受损为特征的群体。 拟议的研究将提供在语言处理过程中诱发的行为和神经反应之间的关联的深入评估，并将推进我们对语言特异性和领域一般认知机制对语言能力个体差异的影响的理解。所获得的有关因素的知识有助于语言技能的变化将通知教育工作者，谁将使用这些信息来创建程序量身定制的个人的认知优势。最后，本研究将做出一些方法上的贡献，包括（i）对几种语言理解测量的稳定性进行全面评估，（ii）介绍EEG通道/感兴趣区域的功能定位方法，以及（iii）验证应用于EEG/ERP数据的几种分析技术（即，潜在差异得分建模（LDS）和代表性相似性分析（RSA））。总之，拟议中的研究将使我在理解语言多样性机制方面取得重大进展。

Individual variability in language abilities is often discarded from scientific investigation. A comprehensive account of language processing, however, requires consideration of commonalities as well as individual differences. The long-term goal of my research is to provide a detailed account of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying individual differences in language processing. This account will explain how language-specific (e.g., lexical knowledge) and domain-general (e.g., working memory) mechanisms contribute to individual differences in language processing. It will establish a link between linguistic behaviour and brain responses. Finally, it will apply to populations with different linguistic profiles. Using a number of innovative methodological approaches and adhering to the current standards of reproducible and transparent science, I will pursue the following short-term aims. Aim 1 is to assess reliability and stability of several behavioural and electrophysiological measures of language processing. Measures found to be stable within individuals will be used as indicators of individual performance in further studies. Aim 2 is to advance a technique of functional localization of regions of interest to the field of electrophysiology. This innovative methodological approach will allow me to account for variability in locations of functional areas dedicated to language in the individual brains. In Aim 3, I will explore inter-individual variations in behavioural and neural responses during language processing across 3 populations with distinct linguistic profiles: (i) monolinguals, (ii) bilinguals, and (iii) individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a group characterized by impaired processing of language. The proposed research will provide an in-depth evaluation of associations between behavioural and neural responses evoked during language processing and will advance our understanding of effects that language-specific and domain-general cognitive mechanisms have on individual differences in linguistic abilities. The obtained knowledge about factors contributing to variability in linguistic skills will inform educators, who will use this information to create programs tailored to the cognitive strengths of an individual. Finally, this research will make a number of methodological contributions, including (i) a comprehensive assessment of stability of several language comprehension measures, (ii) an introduction of the method of functional localization of EEG channels/regions of interest, and (iii) a validation of several analysis techniques applied to EEG/ERP data (i.e., latent difference score modeling (LDS) and representational similarity analysis (RSA)). To conclude, the proposed research will allow me to make significant advances in understanding mechanisms of linguistic diversity.