Мячиков Андрей Викторович

NEUROCOGNITIVE PROCESSING OF ZERO MORPHEME: EEG AND MEG EVIDENCE

2021 · CHAPTER · en

Editorial: Brain-Behaviour Interfaces in Linguistic Communication

2020 · ARTICLE · en

Language is a uniquely human cognitive function, which greatly defines and determines our psychological and social traits. Despite the importance of language and speech, they remain among the least understood human cognitive processes, and their neurobiological underpinnings are still poorly understood. In recent decades, an immense body of diverse data illuminating the neural bases of language processes in both children and adults has been acquired through the use of many advanced techniques. These include electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), functional magnetic-resonance imaging (fMRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct and alternating current stimulation (tDCS, tACS), eye-tracking, behavioral measures, etc. The combined power of these techniques continues to shed light upon the brain mechanisms of language acquisition, comprehension and processing, speech disorders, their diagnosis and treatment, as well as the interplay between language and other neurocognitive systems and functions. The aim of the Research Topic Brain-Behavior Interfaces in Linguistic Communication is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of this diverse and multidisciplinary area of research, with a special emphasis on bridging the gap between different research fields, theoretical views, and methodologies. Our Research Topic offers a collection of 14 articles on various facets of linguistic behavior and its neural underpinnings. The collection comprises 11 research papers (including six original research reports and five brief research reports), one comprehensive review, one mini review, and one opinion paper. The collection can be topically divided into several groups of papers. The first group brings together several articles using electroencephalography in order to investigate the neural bases of language learning and use. The opinion article by Shtyrov et al. addresses the effectiveness and neural underpinning of two main routes of novel word acquisition: (1) explicit encoding and (2) implicit learning (fast mapping). The authors discuss methodological confounds besetting existing research paradigms and provide a clear perspective for designing a comprehensive and fully balanced experimental approach for comparing these two language learning modes. The experimental study described by Vasilyeva et al. follows up on this and investigates the neural bases of fast mapping in adults by documenting near-instant changes in neural activity after a single-shot novel word training. The authors conclude that fast mapping may promote rapid integration of newly learned items into the brain's neural lexicon, even into adulthood. In a related article on ERP correlates of novel word learning, Bermúdez-Margaretto et al. show how novel words repeatedly associated with meaningful cues demonstrate a higher attenuation of N400 responses than the words trained in a basic orthographic condition, confirming facilitation of the lexico-semantic processing of these stimuli as a consequence of semantic association. This finding suggests that novel word learning could be influenced by the activation of the categorization-related network. Next, the contribution by Ovchinnikova et al. investigated auditory event-related potentials in children reared in two very different types of environment: biological-family care or institutional care. The paper makes an important contribution concerning the role of social environment in neurocognitive maturation. den Hollander et al. further inform this debate by using EEG for identifying the speech production stages in early and late adulthood. They report no scalp distribution differences between the two groups suggesting that the same networks are involved at different stages, regardless of the age, even though the timing of the individual stages is different between the groups. Alday and Kretzschmar used ERP and multiple-response speed-accuracy trade-off (SAT) paradigm to investigate the relationship between N400 and P300 ERP components. The article clarifies how these two classic ERP potentials determine behavioral profiles. With the use of multivariate Bayesian mixed-effects models, GLMM-based approach, and partial effects, the paper demonstrates how overlapping ERP responses in one sample of participants predict behavioral SAT profiles of another sample. Moreover, this research confirms that the P300 and N400 reflect two independent but interacting processes and that the competition between these processes is reflected differently in the speed-accuracy trade-off behavior. Finally, in an EEG study on a language in transition (Icelandic) Bornkessel-Schlesewsky et al. show that the neurophysiological responses already reflect projected language changes that are not yet apparent in the overt behavior of native speakers. Another set of articles address semantic aspects of language learning and use. The mini review by Mkrtychian et al. offers a snapshot of psycholinguistic and neurocognitive approaches to studying concrete and abstract semantics. A review by Monaco et al. discusses the role of embodied semantics in second language comprehension arguing that L2 is embodied differently than L1 (which might have important clinical implications). Lastly, the research by Calabria et al. addresses the issue of semantic processing in bilingual (Catalan—Spanish) aphasia. The results suggest that lexical retrieval in individuals with bilingual aphasia may be selectively impaired within their non-dominant language due to an excessive amount of inhibition placed upon this language. Two contributions from our collection focus on investigating reading processes using eye-tracking. Lou et al. suggest that eye movements during reading can be influenced by the motivation of self-enhancement in addition to various stimulus' properties and cognitive factors; this also indicates that eye-tracking can be used to study implicit social cognition. Research presented by Petrova et al. shows that readers process information better and faster while reading sketch-notes than verbal texts; additionally, various types of sketch-notes differ in terms of how good the readers are in following the order of elements. Finally, two articles offer examples of behavioral psycholinguistic research. Niebuhr et al. report the results of a 12-weeks prosodic charisma training that is shown to be more beneficial for female speakers as opposed to male ones. Pokhoday et al. report new evidence about the role of the speaker's attention (manipulated by visual priming) and event orientation in sentence production by using a flexible word-order language, Russian. In conclusion, the present Research Topic will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding of how neurocognitive systems provide humans with language and will help to further unveil the backstage of our intrinsic communication abilities.

Automatic Integration of Gender Information during Phrase Processing: ERP Evidence

2020 · PREPRINT · en

Both linguistic (e.g., words, syntax) and extralinguistic (e.g., voice quality) information needs to be considered by interlocutors during linguistic communication. The effects of extralinguistic information on neural sentence processing are particularly poorly understood. Here, we used EEG and passive non-attend design with visual distraction in order to investigate how extralinguistic information affects brain activity during syntactic processing. We collected ERPs while participants listened to Russian pronoun-verb phrases recorded in either male or female voice. We manipulated congruency between the grammatical gender signaled by the verb’s ending and the speaker’s apparent gender. We registered both early and late phrase processing signatures in the incongruent conditions including ELAN (peaking at ~150 ms) and N400. Our data suggest a high degree of automaticity in integrating extralinguistic information during syntactic processing indicating existence of a rapid automatic syntactic integration mechanism sensitive to both linguistic and extralinguistic information.

Orthographic Learning In L1 And L2 Alphabets: The Impact of Phonological Inconsistency Across Cyrillic and Roman Scripts

2020 · PREPRINT · en

The acquisition of new orthographic representations has been systematically found as a fast and accurate process in monolingual readers. The present study aims to extended this research to biliterate and bialphabetic population, addressing the impact of phonological inconsistencies across the native (L1) and second (L2) alphabet. Naming latencies were collected from 50 Russian-English biliterates through a reading-aloud task, in which familiar and novel words were repeatedly presented across 10 blocks. The stimuli were equally divided in three script conditions: Cyrillic, Roman (in both cases, using script-specific graphemes) and ambiguous (using graphemes common to L1 and L2 alphabets, and thus phonologically inconsistent). Linear mixed-effects modelling revealed differences in the process of orthographic learning depending on the script. Thus, although naming latencies for novel and familiar words in the ambiguous condition were matched along the training, this effect was much faster in conditions of phonological consistency. Nonetheless, post-training outcomes of learning revealed similar recall and recognition performance in familiar and trained words regardless of the script. Overall, our results indicate that phonological inconsistency interferes with the decoding of novel words but does not prevent the efficient achievement of orthographic representations in biliterates.

Cognitive and brain reserve in bilinguals: field overview and explanatory mechanisms

2020 · ARTICLE · en

There is an ongoing debate on potential neuroprotective effects of bilingualism against cognitive decline during healthy aging. In this paper, we consider the neural and cognitive mechanisms through which these protective effects may operate. We review the evidence suggesting that bilingualism can act as a booster of neuroplasticity and/or as a brain protection mechanism providing effective compensation. Our main aim is to better define the linkage between reserve and lifetime bilingual experience and their effects on the mind and brain. We first illustrate the concept of reserve and contextualize existing results of bilingualism research within the reserve framework. Then, we discuss how bilingualism-induced enhancements of certain cognitive functions may constitute the basis for the neural underpinnings of reserve, i.e., brain reserve (BR) and cognitive reserve (CR). Finally, we discuss how the interplay between BR and CR fostered by multiple language use can provide protection to the aging brain.

Editorial: Brain-Behaviour Interfaces in Linguistic Communication

2020 · ARTICLE · en

Language is a uniquely human cognitive function which plays a defining role in our psychological and social traits. Despite the obvious importance of language and speech, they remain one of the least understood human cognitive functions with the cortical underpinnings of these crucial skills still obscure. In recent decades, a large amount of data that account for the neural bases of language processes in both children and adults have been acquired through the use of many advanced neurophysiology techniques. These include high-density electroencephalography, magnetoencephalography, functional magnetic-resonance tomography, transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, and eye-tracking. The combined use of these approaches continues to shed light on brain mechanisms of language acquisition, comprehension and processing, on speech disorders and their treatment, and on interactions between language and other neurocognitive systems and functions. The aim of this Research Topic in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of this diverse and multidisciplinary area of ​​research, with special emphasis on bridging the gap between different methodologies.

(NON)EXISTENCE OF ZERO MORPHEME: ERP EVIDENCE

2020 · CHAPTER · en

Effects of Visual Priming and Event Orientation on Word Order Choice in Russian Sentence Production

2019 · ARTICLE · en

Existing research shows that distribution of the speaker’s attention among event’s protagonists affects syntactic choice during sentence production. One of the debated issues concerns the extent of the attentional contribution to syntactic choice in languages that put stronger emphasis on word order arrangement rather than the choice of the overall syntactic frame. To address this, the current study used a sentence production task, in which Russian native speakers were asked to verbally describe visually perceived transitive events. Prior to describing the target event, a visual cue directed the participants’ attention to the location of either the agent or the patient of the subsequently presented visual event. In addition, we also manipulated event orientation (agent-left vs. agent-right) as another potential contributor to syntactic choice. The number of patient-initial sentences was the dependent variable compared between conditions. First, the obtained results replicated the effect of visual cueing on the word order in Russian language: more patient-initial sentences in patient cued condition. Second, we registered a novel effect of event orientation: Russian native speakers produced more patient-initial sentences after seeing events developing from right to left as opposed to left-to-right events. Our study provides new evidence about the role of the speaker’s attention and event orientation in syntactic choice in language with flexible word order.

EEG correlates of false information processing

2019 · CHAPTER · en

Human memory is not a literal record of our experiences but a fallible and malleable cognitive process. Because of the reconstructive nature of memory, we are often prone to accept false events and recall them as truthful (Bartlett, 1932). One easy and reliable method to create and study false memories in the laboratory is the misinformation paradigm. In this paradigm participants are presented with a story (original information). After some time, parts of this story are presented again but now including some modifications (misinformation). Finally, the memory is measured for the original information, the misinformation, and, as control, some other incorrect information never presented before. The misinformation effect occurs when the percentage of misinformation accepted is higher than the acceptance of control incorrect information. This effect has been largely studied in relation to its applied relevance in eyewitness testimony research. Yet, the neural substrates and temporal dynamics of processing correct and false information remain scarcely studied. In this study the neural activity was recorded using EEG while participants performed a memory recognition test which comprised misinformation, true, and simply incorrect items. The only previous EEG study on neural correlates focused on misinformation pointed to the P3b and LPC (late positive component) ERPs components as the key to distinguishing between memories for correct and false memories. High P3b is linked with a strong match between the expectation and the stimuli presented. LPC is a late component around 400 to 800 ms after the stimulus presentation, associated with the recollection of accurate information. Our results show that for the contrasts of misinformation accepted vs rejected, and false information accepted vs rejected (correct rejections), P3b was significantly more positive when the inaccurate information was accepted. These differences suggest a larger cognitive workload on accepting this type of information than when it is correctly rejected. Furthermore, in both contrasts we found differences in P600 which is linked to reprocessing of detected anomalies in the input. Here, we found a more expressed P600 for accepted than for rejected misinformation. P600 was also stronger for correct rejections than false alarms. In this latter case, the higher P600 amplitude may reflect the detection and reanalysis of the rejection of this false information. Interestingly, in the case of acceptance of misinformation, the higher P600 amplitude suggest that participants are not totally blind to the inaccuracy of the misinformation, though still they accept it. The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project №19-18-00534).

Differential neural basis for different levels of metacognitive evaluations

2019 · CHAPTER · en

Metacognitive monitoring is a powerful tool that supports our ongoing cognitive processes (Flavell, 1976). In applied settings, such as when we are trying to learn a new language, monitoring the learning progress may determine the difference between success and failure. One way to measure metacognitive monitoring in relation to learning new material is the so-called Judgments of Learning (JOLs). JOLs are estimations of future success in recalling recently learned information. Depending on the confidence that we have in remembering the new information later, we may decide to keep rehearsing it or just move on. Existing research shows that several variables can mislead our JOLs in relation to the subsequent recall accuracy; at the same time, other variables that influence the recall itself do not affect JOLs. Perceptual fluency, manipulated in different sensory modalities by e.g. font size or presentation volume, leads to differences in JOLs (e.g., higher JOLs for bigger font size), although recall accuracy remains the same regardless of the manipulation. On the other and, the animacy manipulation (e.g., dog vs. table) does not affect JOLs but animate words are remembered better. Our main aim was to study JOL brain correlates for variables that differently affect JOLs and memory. Participants were presented with words in an easy- or difficult to-read font that referred to animate or inanimate objects while EEG was recorded. For each word, participants had to choose on a 0-100% scale the confidence they had in remembering it in near future. We found a higher P2 response for high- (70–100%) than to medium- JOLs (40–60%) ratings, which may reflect attentional recruitment resulting in modulation of perceptual processing. Furthermore, we found a greater P600 response for medium- than high-JOLs, suggesting a deeper reanalysis of these type of “less confident” answers. When animacy and perceptual fluency are split between medium and high-JOLs, we found LPC (late positive component) only for animacy, being showing a higher amplitude for the high- than medium-JOLs.. This might indicate a higher involvement of memory processes during the processing of animacy-related information. Finally, when comparing difficult type font words rated with medium and high-JOLs, we obtained larger P3b for high-JOLs rated words, which may attributed to their deeper evaluation. This is the first evidence of differential brain signatures for JOLs depending on their ratings level and different experimental manipulations. Our results highlight the relevance of metacognitive evaluations in the cognitive processing. The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project №19-18-00534).