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Distinct cortical areas associated with native and second languages

Author

Listed:
  • Karl H. S. Kim

    (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    Cornell University Medical College)

  • Norman R. Relkin

    (Cornell University Medical College)

  • Kyoung-Min Lee

    (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    Cornell University Medical College)

  • Joy Hirsch

    (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    Cornell University Medical College)

Abstract

The ability to acquire and use several languages selectively is a unique and essential human capacity. Here we investigate the fundamental question of how multiple languages are represented in a human brain. We applied functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to determine the spatial relationship between native and second languages in the human cortex, and show that within the frontal-lobe language-sensitive regions (Broca's area)1,2,3, second languages acquired in adulthood (‘late’ bilingual subjects) are spatially separated from native languages. However, when acquired during the early language acquisition stage of development (‘early’ bilingual subjects), native and second languages tend to be represented in common frontal cortical areas. In both late and early bilingual subjects, the temporal-lobe language-sensitive regions (Wernicke's area)1,2,3 also show effectively little or no separation of activity based on the age of language acquisition. This discovery of language-specific regions in Broca's area advances our understanding of the cortical representation that underlies multiple language functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Karl H. S. Kim & Norman R. Relkin & Kyoung-Min Lee & Joy Hirsch, 1997. "Distinct cortical areas associated with native and second languages," Nature, Nature, vol. 388(6638), pages 171-174, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:388:y:1997:i:6638:d:10.1038_40623
    DOI: 10.1038/40623
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    Cited by:

    1. Alcántara-Pilar, Juan Miguel & Del Barrio-García, Salvador & Rodríguez-López, Mª Eugenia, 2018. "Does language matter? A cross-national comparison of the moderating effect of language on website information-processing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 66-78.
    2. Jiaxing Jiang & Lin Fan, 2022. "Visualizing the Knowledge Domain of Language Experience: A Bibliometric Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440211, January.

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