Exploring individual differences in language processing using behavioral and electrophysiological methods

使用行为和电生理学方法探索语言处理的个体差异

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-05311
• 负责人: Jouravlev, Olessia
• 金额: $ 1.75万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=713589
• 关键词: Exploring; individual; differences; language; processing

Individual variability in language abilities is often discarded from scientific investigation. A comprehensive account of language processing, however, requires consideration of commonalities as well as individual differences. The long-term goal of my research is to provide a detailed account of the neurocognitive mechanisms underlying individual differences in language processing. This account will explain how language-specific (e.g., lexical knowledge) and domain-general (e.g., working memory) mechanisms contribute to individual differences in language processing. It will establish a link between linguistic behaviour and brain responses. Finally, it will apply to populations with different linguistic profiles. Using a number of innovative methodological approaches and adhering to the current standards of reproducible and transparent science, I will pursue the following short-term aims. Aim 1 is to assess reliability and stability of several behavioural and electrophysiological measures of language processing. Measures found to be stable within individuals will be used as indicators of individual performance in further studies. Aim 2 is to advance a technique of functional localization of regions of interest to the field of electrophysiology. This innovative methodological approach will allow me to account for variability in locations of functional areas dedicated to language in the individual brains. In Aim 3, I will explore inter-individual variations in behavioural and neural responses during language processing across 3 populations with distinct linguistic profiles: (i) monolinguals, (ii) bilinguals, and (iii) individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), a group characterized by impaired processing of language. The proposed research will provide an in-depth evaluation of associations between behavioural and neural responses evoked during language processing and will advance our understanding of effects that language-specific and domain-general cognitive mechanisms have on individual differences in linguistic abilities. The obtained knowledge about factors contributing to variability in linguistic skills will inform educators, who will use this information to create programs tailored to the cognitive strengths of an individual. Finally, this research will make a number of methodological contributions, including (i) a comprehensive assessment of stability of several language comprehension measures, (ii) an introduction of the method of functional localization of EEG channels/regions of interest, and (iii) a validation of several analysis techniques applied to EEG/ERP data (i.e., latent difference score modeling (LDS) and representational similarity analysis (RSA)). To conclude, the proposed research will allow me to make significant advances in understanding mechanisms of linguistic diversity.

语言能力的个体差异常常被科学研究所忽视。然而，对语言处理的全面描述需要考虑共性和个体差异。我研究的长期目标是详细说明语言处理个体差异背后的神经认知机制。该解释将解释特定语言（例如词汇知识）和通用领域（例如工作记忆）机制如何导致语言处理中的个体差异。它将在语言行为和大脑反应之间建立联系。最后，它将适用于具有不同语言特征的人群。 我将采用许多创新的方法论方法并遵守当前可重复和透明的科学标准，以实现以下短期目标。目标 1 是评估语言处理的几种行为和电生理测量的可靠性和稳定性。被发现在个体内稳定的测量将被用作进一步研究中个体表现的指标。目标 2 是在电生理学领域推进感兴趣区域的功能定位技术。这种创新的方法将使我能够解释个体大脑中专门用于语言的功能区域位置的变化。在目标 3 中，我将探讨 3 个具有不同语言特征的人群在语言处理过程中行为和神经反应的个体差异：(i) 单语者，(ii) 双语者，以及 (iii) 患有自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 的个体，以语言处理能力受损为特征的群体。 拟议的研究将对语言处理过程中引发的行为和神经反应之间的关联进行深入评估，并将促进我们对特定语言和领域通用认知机制对语言能力个体差异的影响的理解。所获得的有关导致语言技能变异的因素的知识将为教育工作者提供信息，教育工作者将利用这些信息来创建适合个人认知优势的计划。最后，这项研究将做出许多方法论贡献，包括（i）对几种语言理解措施的稳定性进行全面评估，（ii）介绍脑电图通道/感兴趣区域的功能定位方法，以及（iii）对应用于 EEG/ERP 数据的几种分析技术（即潜在差异评分模型 (LDS) 和表征相似性分析 (RSA)）进行验证。总而言之，拟议的研究将使我在理解语言多样性机制方面取得重大进展。