Year: 2014
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This study investigates the neural structures and cognitive processes involved in adult second language (L2) learning, and whether and how they change as a function of increasing exposure and proficiency.By combining behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures, this study aims to address fundamental questions in Second Language Acquisition research that cannot be fully explored with behavioral methods alone.Research to date suggests that the mechanisms underlying L2 may change during acquisition, though in different ways for lexical/semantics and grammar.However, it is logistically impossible to longitudinally investigate the course of learning a natural language from initial exposure to advanced proficiency.This has left major gaps in this research.Studies on the learning of artificial linguistic systems (e.g., artificial grammars) have begun to address this issue, but their generalizability to natural languages has been questioned.The current study aims to bridge the gap between artificial linguistic systems and natural languages by longitudinally examining the learning of a reduced natural language, or "mini-language".Fifteen native speakers of English were trained on a subset of Basque, from initial exposure to high proficiency.Behavioral and fMRI measures were continuously acquired during all grammar training.Learners achieved very high proficiency in vocabulary and reasonably high proficiency in grammar, though morphosyntactic agreement was difficult to master.FMRI activation was This dissertation would not have been possible without the professional and emotional support of many people.While I"m sure this list doesn"t contain every single person who helped me in some way, there are several people that I would like to acknowledge for the impact they have had on me leading up to the writing of this dissertation, and for the great appreciation I feel toward all of them.First and foremost, I would like to thank my dissertation committee for their continued support and guidance through this process.I would like to thank my mentor, Michael Ullman, for working tirelessly with me not only from the first stages of this project, but from my first days at Georgetown.Michael, I have learned so much from you about thinking critically and doing good science, and I have cherished your advice and friendship over the years.To Alison Mackey, thank you for constantly challenging me to step out of my comfort zone, for giving me opportunities to do so, and for not letting me lose sight of the big picture.I believe that I have become a better and more versatile researcher because of you.To Elissa Newport, it has been an honor to work with you, and I truly appreciate the time and expertise that you have dedicated to this project.Thank you so much for taking an interest in this project and allocating funds to make it happen.To Kara Morgan-Short, you were a wonderful role-model for me before we ever met, and I strive to emulate your approach to interdisciplinary research.Thank you for your careful feedback, and for always being available to help me work through issues, big and small, from experimental design to interpretation of results.And to Aron Barbey, thank you for introducing me to the world of fMRI, and for always being so supportive and encouraging.I am endlessly grateful to all five of you for your efforts to see me through this dissertation, and I admire your vii passion and dedication to research.You have all helped, in one way or another, to not only make this dissertation the best that it can be, but also to motivate me to continue to grow as a scientist.For this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.I knew very little about the ins and outs of fMRI research before I started my dissertation, and I could not have figured it all out on my own.I would like to emphatically thank Xiong Jiang, who is responsible for most of the technical training that I received in fMRI over the past couple of years.Xiong, it is hard to imagine how I would have gotten this study off the ground and into an MRI scanner without you, or how long it would have taken to learn how to analyze data without your help.You so willingly dedicated your time to help me with the smallest details, and always with a friendly smile.I would also like to thank John VanMeter, who not only helped me build a foundational knowledge about fMRI research, but also very patiently helped me find my place at the CFMI, and made sure I was able to get the data I needed.To all of the RAs at the CFMI, thank you so very much for running my subjects with me, troubleshooting technical difficulties, and keeping me company during many hours of data collection.I really enjoyed the time I spent with you at the CFMI.Thank you to Peter Turkeltaub, Aaron Newman, and Max Riesenhuber, who were on
Author: Kaitlyn M. Tagarelli
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2206104464