On how brain plasticity, age and proficiency relate to learning with a focus on second language acquisition

Annika Andersson, senior lecturer, FKH

Whereas behavioral studies of L2 acquisition in children are abundant little is known about second language (L2) processing in development neurocognitively. Indeed, neurocognitive studies of L2 processing typically are limited to adults with several years of exposure, who may use general cognitive mechanisms to compensate for any difficulties in L2 processing.

Research on bilingual adults suggests that age of acquisition (AoA), proficiency and crosslinguistic influence (CLI) have different effects on different aspects of L2 processing. These studies typically report that learners display nativelike L2-processing, with early acquisition, high proficiency and when structures are similar to that of their own native language.

I will present studies where we recorded event-related brain potentials (ERPs) in order to index processing of phonological awareness (Rhyming effect: RE), semantics (N400), and syntax (LAN, P600) in bilingual and monolingual children. In addition, I will present a study of CLI effects of processing of L2-syntax in adults. The results from these studies will be discussed in relation to brain plasticity, age and proficiency.

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