Eric Pakulak|Helen J. Neville
Proficiency Differences in Syntactic Processing of Monolingual Native Speakers Indexed by Event-related Potentials
University of Oregon
although anecdotally appear differences way native speakers use comprehend native language empirical investigations language processing study university students none studied differences language proficiency may independent resource limitations working memory span examined differences language proficiency adult monolingual native speakers english using erp paradigm erps recorded insertion phrase structure violations naturally spoken english sentences participants recruited wide spectrum society given standardized measures english language proficiency two complementary erp analyses performed betweengroups analyses participants divided basis standardized proficiency scores lower proficiency higher proficiency groups compared lower proficiency participants higher proficiency participants showed early anterior negativity focal spatially temporally larger widely distributed positivity p600 violations correlational analyses used wide spectrum proficiency scores examine degree individual proficiency scores correlated individual neural responses syntactic violations regions time windows identified betweengroups analyses approach also used partial correlation analyses control possible confounding variables analyses provided evidence effects proficiency converged betweengroups analyses results suggest adult monolingual native speakers english vary language proficiency differ recruitment syntactic processes hypothesized least part automatic well thought controlled results also suggest fully characterize neural organization language native speakers necessary include participants varying proficiency