Neurocognitive basis of Japanese learning as a second language

2015 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K02516
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: ディン ティ 京都大学, 学内共同利用施設等, 助教 (30602073)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 中村 仁洋 京都大学, 医学(系)研究科(研究院), 准教授 (40359633)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: bilinguals / Japanese language / L1 literacy / L2 neurocoginitive basic

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

In 2015 fiscal year, the project "Neurocognitive basis of Japanese language as a second language" was set up and started as described below:
1)140 pictures of everyday seen objects were collected as the experimental materials. 2)In order to confirm the familiarity as well as naming agreement of these selected objects, the behavioral experiment was conducted in 15 Japanese native speakers. Two tasks were used: Picture naming task: the participants spoke loudly the names of the visually presented stimuli; Semantic decision: the participants listened the audio recording of the object names and decide if the object is a man-made object or a natural object. 3)Chinese and Vietnamese native speakers were recruited for fMRI experiment. Chinese native speakers represent the group with morphemic first-language writing system (like kanji of Japanese language), while Vietnamese native speakers represent the group with phonetic first-language writing system (similar to kana of Japanese language). 4)The preliminary fMRI experiment was conducted in 10 Chinese and Vietnamese participants. They were instructed to perform picture naming and semantic decision tasks as described above, while lying inside the 3T Siemens MRI scanner.
The preliminary fMRI results showed that the Chinese group produced stronger activation in parietal areas while the Vietnamese group activated the superiror temporal areas more strongly.These may suggest that literacy skills of L1 are important determinants for L2 neural substrates.
We are continuing to collect data of more subjects for the final conclusion.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

At the beginning, the experiment was set up and started more smoothly than we expected. However, when the fMRI experiment was started, some problems in recording the behavioral data with E-prime software during fMRI experiment occurred which leaded to the lost of some behavioral data of some subjects. We are trying to fix the situation.
Furthermore, because of the highly qualified requirement on participating criteria for the Chinese and Vietnamese speakers included high proficiency for Japanese language as proven by N1 certification of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and/or their participation in or graduation from undergraduate programs carried out in Japanese universities, and have been living in Japan for at least 6 months at the time of conducting this experiment, the recruitment has taken longer time than we expected to find out people who fulfill all the participating requirement.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

-Fix the technical error in recording behavioral data during fMRI scanner.
-Recruit enough 20 participants in each Chinese and Vietnamese groups. Furthermore, Japanese native speakers will also be recruited for fMRI experiments. The data of Japanese group will be used as control data.
-Analyse the collected data.
-Summarize data and write a paper for publication

Causes of Carryover

Due to technical error occurred on the E-Prime software for recording the behavioral data during fMRI experiment, I could not collect enough data for presenting at Neuroscience meeting. I did not attend the Meeting, so the travel expenses were not used in 2015 fiscal year.

Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget

To purchase the new version of E-Prime (E-Prime 2.0 Professional) software.