Inhibition in language switching

Bilingual speakers have to control their languages to avoid interference, which may be achieved by enhancing the target language and/or inhibiting the nontarget language. Previous research has provided evidence that bilinguals may use inhibition (e.g., Jackson, Swainson, Cunnington, & Jackson, 2001), which is reflected in the N2 component of the event-related potential (ERP). In the current study, we investigated the dynamics of inhibitory control by measuring the N2 during language switching and repetition in picture naming. We recorded the EEG of 30 unbalanced Dutch-English bilinguals in a cued language-switching task. Participants had to name pictures in Dutch or English depending on the cue. A run of same-language trials could be short (two or three trials) or long (five or six trials). We assessed whether RTs and N2 changed over the course of same-language runs, and at a switch between languages.

For further information regarding the current research data, please contact Xiaochen Zheng ([e-mail]).

双语使用者需对自身语言实施调控以规避语言干扰，该调控可通过增强目标语言表征或抑制非目标语言表征完成。既往研究已证实，双语者可采用抑制控制机制（如Jackson、Swainson、Cunnington与Jackson，2001），该机制可通过事件相关电位（event-related potential, ERP）的N2成分（N2 component）体现。本研究通过在图片命名任务中测量语言切换与重复阶段的N2成分，探究了抑制控制的动态变化过程。本研究在提示性语言切换任务中，记录了30名荷兰语-英语不平衡双语使用者的脑电图（EEG）信号。被试需根据提示线索，使用荷兰语或英语对图片进行命名。同语言试次块可分为短块（2或3个试次）与长块（5或6个试次）两类。本研究评估了反应时（reaction time, RTs）与N2成分在同语言试次块进程中以及语言切换节点的变化情况。
若需获取本研究数据集的更多相关信息，请联系郑晓晨（[e-mail]）。