Arithmetic memory networks established in childhood are changed by experience in adulthood

NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS

卷:584

Article

Martinez-Lincoln, Amanda^1,2  Cortinas, Christina^1,2  Wicha, Nicole Y. Y.^1,2,3 

[1] Univ Texas San Antonio, Dept Biol, San Antonio, TX USA

[2] Univ Texas San Antonio, Neurosci Inst, San Antonio, TX USA

[3] Univ Texas Hlth Sci Ctr San Antonio, Res Imaging Inst, San Antonio, TX 78229 USA

关键词: Multiplication;    Bilingualism;    Event-related potentials;    N400;    LPC;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.neulet.2014.11.010

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Adult bilinguals show stronger access to multiplication tables when using the language in which they learned arithmetic during childhood (LA+) than the other language (LA-), implying language-specific encoding of math facts. However, most bilinguals use LA+ throughout their life, confounding the impact of encoding and use. We tested if using arithmetic facts in IA- could reduce this LA- disadvantage. We measured event related brain potentials while bilingual teachers judged the correctness of multiplication problems in each of their languages. Critically, each teacher taught arithmetic in either LA+ or LA-. Earlier N400 peak latency was observed in both groups for the teaching than non-teaching language, showing more efficient access to these facts with use. LA+ teachers maintained an LA+ advantage, while LA- teachers showed equivalent N400 congruency effects (for incorrect versus correct solutions) in both languages. LA- teachers also showed a late positive component that may reflect conflict monitoring between their LA+ and a strong LA-. Thus, the LA- disadvantage for exact arithmetic established in early bilingual education can be mitigated by later use of IA-. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

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