Abstract Does the brain of a bilingual process language differently from that monolingual? We compared how bilinguals and monolinguals recruit classic areas in response to task asked whether there is “neural signature” bilingualism. Highly proficient early-exposed adult Spanish-English English participated. During functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), participants completed syntactic “sentence judgment task” [Caplan, D., Alpert, N., & Waters, G. Effects structure propositional...

How does age of first bilingual language exposure affect reading development in children learning to read both their languages? Is there a advantage for monolingual English who are educated schools? We studied (grades 2-3, ages 7-9) Spanish-English schools were either from Spanish-speaking homes (new English) or English-speaking Spanish), as compared with schools. An early had positive effect on reading, phonological awareness, and competence languages: bilinguals (age 0-3 years)...

Does the brain of a bilingual process language differently from that monolingual? We compared how bilinguals and monolinguals recruit classic areas in response to task asked whether there is "neural signature" bilingualism. Highly proficient early-exposed adult Spanish-English English participated. During functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), participants completed syntactic "sentence judgment task" [Caplan, D., Alpert, N., & Waters, G. Effects structure propositional number on...

Phonological awareness, knowledge that speech is composed of syllables and phonemes, critical for learning to read. awareness precedes predicts successful transition from language literacy, weakness in phonological a leading cause dyslexia, but the brain basis spoken children unknown. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging identify neural correlates using an auditory word-rhyming task who were typical readers or had dyslexia (ages 7–13) younger group kindergarteners 5–6). Typically...

Significance: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an emerging brain imaging technique due to its small size, low cost, minimum scanning sonic noise, and portability. Unfortunately, because this does not provide neuroanatomical information accompany the functional data, data interpretation remains a persistent challenge in fNIRS applications. The two most popular approaches for anatomical registration are magnetic resonance (MRI) three-dimensional (3-D) digitization. MRI yields...

Abstract Bilingualism is a typical linguistic experience, yet relatively little known about its impact on children's cognitive and brain development. Theories of bilingualism suggest that early dual‐language acquisition can improve abilities, specifically those relying frontal lobe functioning. While behavioral findings present much conflicting evidence, effects Using functional near‐infrared spectroscopy ( fNIRS ), the Spanish–English bilingual children n = 13, ages 7–13) had greater...

Consequences of multilingualism vary from offering cognitive benefits to poor educational and outcomes. One aspect that has not been systematically examined is the typology multilinguals' languages: Do differences similarities between languages multilinguals are exposed contribute development their cognition brain? We investigated n = 162 5-6-year-olds with various language backgrounds on a monolingual-to-quintilingual continuum. Our results show typological linguistic diversity can be...

Is it best to learn reading in two languages simultaneously or sequentially? We observed 2nd and 3rd grade children two-way dual-language learning contexts: (i) 50:50 Simultaneous (two within same developmental period) (ii) 90:10 Sequential (one language, followed gradually by the other). They were compared matched monolingual English-only single-language English schools. Bilinguals (home language was Spanish only, English-only, schools), tested both languages, using standardized tasks....

The primary purpose of this study was to identify the brain bases phonological working memory (the short-term maintenance speech sounds) using behavioral tasks analogous clinically sensitive assessments nonword repetition. secondary how individual differences in activation were related participants' repetition abilities.We used functional magnetic resonance imaging measure neurophysiological response during a discrimination task derived from standard clinical memory. Healthy adult control...

The transition from pre-reading to early word reading skill in childhood is a time of profound developmental change. To understand changes brain wiring associated with development, this study examined individual differences functional connectivity the network at start formal literacy instruction. Sixty-six kindergarteners (ages 5-6) completed visual processing task during magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Based on standardized assessments, participants were characterized as Pre-Readers...

Theory of mind (ToM) refers to our understanding people's mental states. This ability develops in childhood and influences later social life. However, neuroimaging ToM young children often faces challenges ecological validity quality data collection. We developed implemented an innovative naturalistic story-listening paradigm, which is child-friendly, engaging, ecologically valid, shed light on neural mechanisms childhood. Children (N = 51; age range 6-12 years) listened a chapter Alice's...

Models of monolingual literacy propose that reading acquisition builds upon children's semantic, phonological, and orthographic knowledge. The relationships between these components vary cross-linguistically, yet it is generally unknown how differences impact bilingual literacy. A comparison Spanish–English English children (ages 6–13, N = 70) from the US revealed bilinguals had stronger associations phonological representations than monolinguals during reading. While vocabulary was...

This study investigates the cross-linguistic transfer of literacy skills in Spanish-English, Chinese-English bilingual, and English monolingual children (N = 283, 5-10 years). Research question 1 examines asks how phonological morpho-semantic contribute to word reading as a function children's language background. Structural equation modeling revealed contrasting bilingual effects: compared monolinguals, Spanish-English bilinguals relied more on awareness reading, whereas lexical knowledge....

Motion artifacts are the most significant sources of noise in context pediatric brain imaging designs and data analyses, especially applications functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which it can completely affect quality acquired. Different methods have been developed to correct motion fNIRS data, but relative effectiveness these for from child infant subjects (which is often found be significantly noisier than adult data) remains largely unexplored. The issue further complicated...

Language acquisition is characterized by progressive use of inflectional morphology marking verb tense and agreement. Linguistic milestones are also linked to left-brain lateralization for language specialization. We used neuroimaging (fNIRS) investigate how bilingual exposure influences children's cortical organization processing morpho-syntax. In Study 1, monolinguals bilinguals (n = 39) completed a grammaticality judgment task that included English sentences with violations in...

Abstract Can bilingual exposure impact children's neural circuitry for learning to read? To answer this question, we investigated the brain bases of morphological awareness, one key spoken language abilities read in English and Chinese. Bilingual Chinese‐English monolingual children ( N = 22, ages 7–12) completed tasks that best characterize each their languages: compound morphology Chinese (e.g. basket + ball basketball) derivational re do redo). In contrast monolinguals, bilinguals showed...

The developmental process of reading acquisition is frequently conceptualized as a self-organizing mental network consisting lexico-semantic, phonological and orthographical components. nature this varies across languages known to impact second-language learners typologically different languages. Yet, it remains largely unknown whether such cross-linguistic differences interact within young bilingual two In the present study, we compared Chinese–English bilinguals English monolinguals (ages...

The possibility and nature of bilingual advantage for theory mind (ToM), that is, young children outperforming their monolingual peers, have been discussed increasingly since the first research on topic was published in 2003. Because accumulating evidence demonstrates a ToM individuals, this article, we focus how arises. We consider current theoretical positions, including executive function, metalinguistic awareness, sociolinguistic awareness accounts, explain such an children. These...