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UID:16772-25187c0d4921f3ae348bc5f81ae4d9ec@events.la.psu.edu
DTSTAMP:20260602T204428Z
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241101T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241101T103000
SUMMARY:Megan Nakamura
DESCRIPTION:“Behavioral and Electrophysiological Signatures of Novel Lan
guage Learning in the Earliest Stages”\n\nTo fully understand the source
of long-term effects of bilingualism and/or to explore how to potential
ly leverage language learning for healthy aging\, it is essential to fir
st unpack adult language learning itself. The early stages of adult nove
l language learning offer a unique window into the neurocognitive proces
ses involved at the very onset of learning. In this talk\, Megan Nakamur
a will discuss findings from a study that investigates the neurocognitiv
e mechanisms underlying adult language learning in the early stages––aft
er only 5-7 hours––and the modulating effects of prior bilingual experie
nce and executive functions\, namely\, inhibitory control and verbal wor
king memory. We used a pre/post shortterm longitudinal design wherein pa
rticipants underwent a 10-day Dutch language training intervention using
Rosetta Stone®. To track neurophysiological changes associated with lea
rning\, we used EEG to record Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) during a S
emantic Categorization Task (SCT) designed to measure the lexicalization
of new words from pre- to post-test. Our results showed significant red
uctions in N400 amplitude at post-test for learned words\, indicating su
ccessful semantic integration and rapid neural adaptation. These finding
s replicate and extend the results of McLaughlin et al. (2004) and Bakke
r et al. (2015). Notably\, we found that this N400 attenuation was modul
ated by individual differences in prior bilingual experience\, inhibitor
y control capabilities\, as well as cognate status of words. These insig
hts highlight the interplay between the characteristics of novel words\,
existing language experience\, and cognitive control mechanisms during
the early stages of novel language learning.\n\nFor more details: https:
//events.la.psu.edu/event/dr-megan-nakamura/
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:“Behavioral an
d Electrophysiological Signatures of Novel Language Learning in the Earl
iest Stages”
To fully understand the source of long-term effects
of bilingualism and/or to explore how to potentially leverage language l
earning for healthy aging, it is essential to first unpack adult languag
e learning itself. The early stages of adult novel language learning off
er a unique window into the neurocognitive processes involved at the ver
y onset of learning. In this talk, Megan Nakamura will discuss findings
from a study that investigates the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying
adult language learning in the early stages––after only 5-7 hours––and t
he modulating effects of prior bilingual experience and executive functi
ons, namely, inhibitory control and verbal working memory. We used a pre
/post shortterm longitudinal design wherein participants underwent a 10-
day Dutch language training intervention using Rosetta Stone®. To track
neurophysiological changes associated with learning, we used EEG to reco
rd Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) during a Semantic Categorization Task
(SCT) designed to measure the lexicalization of new words from pre- to
post-test. Our results showed significant reductions in N400 amplitude a
t post-test for learned words, indicating successful semantic integratio
n and rapid neural adaptation. These findings replicate and extend the r
esults of McLaughlin et al. (2004) and Bakker et al. (2015). Notably, we
found that this N400 attenuation was modulated by individual difference
s in prior bilingual experience, inhibitory control capabilities, as wel
l as cognate status of words. These insights highlight the interplay bet
ween the characteristics of novel words, existing language experience, a
nd cognitive control mechanisms during the early stages of novel languag
e learning.
For more details: https://events.la.psu.edu/event/dr-megan-nakamu
ra/
LOCATION:102 Foster Auditorium, Paterno Library
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