Collaborative Research: Working memory as mediating the role of music in learning of a second language

该项目的重点是研究，将提供一个更完整的理解，音乐训练，音乐能力，以及工作记忆方面与成人第二语言（L2）学习的方式。该项目是一个更广泛的研究计划的一部分，该计划调查成人L2学习和处理，以更好地了解语言处理系统。这一长期目标之所以重要，有几个原因。世界正变得越来越多文化和多语言。在美国，在家里说英语以外的语言的人数正在增加，迫切需要提供非英语语言的临床服务。为了迎接这一挑战，语言教学计划必须优化成人第二语言学习者，这将是最好的完成有一个透彻的了解成人第二语言学习的过程。虽然这里采取的方法是检查个体差异，我们的初步研究结果表明，音乐训练计划可能会转移到第二语言学习，虽然这将需要直接测试。该研究团队致力于将来自代表性不足群体的个人纳入研究，该项目将为来自代表性不足群体的高中，本科和博士生提供参与科学的机会。这项研究的结果和产品将免费分享，并广泛传播给研究人员和语言教师。 这个项目将测试音乐训练或能力是否与工作记忆更新能力的增加有关，以及这种机制是否介导了L2学习的改善。它扩展了过去的研究，主要是限于语音领域，研究工作记忆的中介作用的音乐训练/能力和第二语言学习之间的关系。正在解决的问题包括：在多大程度上的音乐优势，在成年人的能力，学习一个L2取决于培训与能力？音乐训练和能力是否相互作用？这些关系在多大程度上是由工作记忆更新能力所介导或独立于工作记忆更新能力的？这些关系的性质是否在第二语言学习的语音、词汇和形态句法方面有所不同？为了探索这些问题，该团队将探索语言学习的困难和已知的税收学习者的能力领域-即那些与母语差异最大的领域。实验方法包括使用事件相关脑电位，因为它们通常比单独的行为措施更敏感地衡量成人L2学习。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project focuses on research that will provide a more complete understanding of the way that musical training, musical ability, and aspects of working memory relate to adult second language (L2) learning. The project is part of a broader research program that investigates adult L2 learning and processing, to achieve a better understanding of the language processing system. This longer-range goal is important for several reasons. The world is becoming increasingly multicultural and multilingual. In the US, the number of people who speak a language other than English at home is on the rise, and there is a pressing need to provide clinical services in non-English languages. To meet this challenge, language instruction programs must be optimized for adult L2 learners, which will be accomplished best by having a thorough understanding of the process of adult L2 learning. Although the approach taken here is to examine individual differences, our preliminary findings suggest that musical training programs may transfer to L2 learning though this would need to be tested directly. This research team is committed to the inclusion of individuals from under-represented groups in research, and the project will provide opportunity for high school, undergraduate, and PhD students from underrepresented groups to participate in science. The findings and products of this research will be freely shared and widely disseminated to researchers and language instructors. This project will test whether musical training or ability are associated with increased working memory updating abilities, and whether this mechanism mediates improved L2 learning. It extends past research which has mainly been limited to the phonological domain, to examine a mediating role of working memory for relationships between musical training/ability and L2 learning. Questions being addressed include: To what extent does the musical advantage in adults’ ability to learn an L2 depend on training vs. ability? And, do musical training and ability interact? To what extent are these relationships mediated by or independent of working memory updating abilities? Does the nature of these relationships differ for phonological, lexical, and morpho-syntactic aspects of L2 learning? To explore these questions, the team will exploit areas of language learning that are difficult and known to tax learners’ abilities - namely those that differ the most from the native language. Experimental approaches include use of event-related brain potentials because they are often more sensitive measures of adult L2 learning than behavioral measures alone.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.