Neural Oscillations of Processing English Wh-Dependencies: An EEG Study

Autor/in	Lin, Keng-Yu
Titel	Neural Oscillations of Processing English Wh-Dependencies: An EEG Study
Quelle	(2023), (167 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Florida
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
ISBN	979-8-3797-5245-3
Schlagwörter	Hochschulschrift; Dissertation; Brain Hemisphere Functions; Diagnostic Tests; Language Processing; Language Research; English; Memory; Correlation + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Thesis; Dissertations; Academic thesis; Diagnostic test; Diagnostischer Test; Sprachverarbeitung; Sprachforschung; English language; Englisch; Gedächtnis; Korrelation
Abstract	The present dissertation reports two experiments that investigate the processing of English wh-dependencies by including language-specific (experiment I) and domain-general (experiment II) factors. We looked into both event-related brain potentials (ERPs) and time-frequency representations (TFRs) of the EEG signal so as to obtain a more thorough understanding of the processing of English wh-dependencies, as ERPs and TFRs can complement each other in the EEG signals they capture. Experiment I revisited the processing of English wh-dependencies by manipulating the wh-dependency relation (whether vs. who) and distance (short vs. long) between the wh-word and its argument assigner. The examination of the processing difference in the wh-dependency relation is important as it served as a confirmatory follow-up of previous studies and aimed to ensure that the present manipulations worked in the same way as previous studies. Investigating the distance manipulation in ERPs and TFRs is theoretically important as it provides further evidence to support the memory/resources-based account of processing English wh-dependencies. In addition, it contributes to the literature as to whether dependency distance plays a role, which has not reached a consensus yet. Experiment II expanded the scope of processing English wh-dependencies by including the domain-general proactive control in the design. Including domain-general proactive control can be theoretically important, as it contributes to the question of whether language-specific processing functions independently of other domain-general systems or whether it dynamically interacts with them as a function of contextual demands. Results of Experiment I revealed an unexpected main effect of distance (independent of the wh-dependency relation), suggesting that distance needs to be carefully controlled in future studies. Besides, we observed an unexpected P600 effect at the determiner of the embedded subject, which suggests participants' tendency of being proactive during parsing. Results of Experiment II revealed a modulatory effect of proactive control on the processing of English wh-dependencies, suggesting a dynamic interaction between domain-general cognitive control and language-specific processing. Results also support the memory/resources-based approach of processing wh-dependencies. Taken together, results from this dissertation supports an interactive view of language processing in which domain-general proactive control can dynamically interact with language-specific processing. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.] (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01