Corroborating the controversial Bilingual Advantage hypothesis using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) neuroimaging

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K20152
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 90030:Cognitive science-related
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Wroblewski Greggory John 九州大学, 言語文化研究院, 准教授 (60830908)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: fNIRS / bilingual advantage / EVT / FAS test / L2 acquisition

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the present research period, I have accomplished the following: 1) Created a liaison between our Faculty of Languages and Cultures and Kyushu University Hospital and established a precedent/template in which the latter provides IRB certification for "clinical research" in our department, 2) Purchased a portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) device, now available here on our Ito Campus for future research in the PI's laboratory as well as in collaborations with other researchers interested in fields such as neurolinguistics, 3) Established a reproducible, reliable protocol for collecting fNIRS data in healthy Japanese subjects in a non-clinical setting such as on our campus, 4) Collected fNIRS and behavioral data in 20 subjects to corroborate the controversial bilingual advantage hypothesis by correlating L2 (English) proficiency with changes in prefrontal oxygenated hemoglobin (data analysis pending), 5) Published three research articles in related fields

Free Research Field

Neurolinguistics

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

- I can now provide other KU researchers in non-technical fields guidance in doing clinical research on our campus.
- The gathered data may provide insight into the mechanisms of L2 acquisition.
- I have established inter-departmental cooperation with KU Hospital for future related research.