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White matter microstructure predicts foreign language learning in army interpreters

Mårtensson, Johan LU ; Eriksson, Johan ; Bodammer, Nils Christian ; Lindgren, Magnus LU ; Johansson, Mikael LU orcid ; Nyberg, Lars and Lövdén, Martin LU (2020) In Bilingualism 23(4). p.763-771
Abstract

Adult foreign language acquisition is challenging, and the degree of success varies among individuals. Anatomical differences in brain structure prior to training can partly explain why some learn more than others. We followed a sample of conscript interpreters undergoing intense language training to study learning-related changes in white-matter microstructure (FA, MD, RD and AD) and associations between differences in brain structure prior to training with acquired language proficiency. No evidence for changes in white matter microstructure relative to a control group was found. Starting values of RD, AD and MD were positively related to final test scores of language proficiency, corroborating earlier findings in the field and... (More)

Adult foreign language acquisition is challenging, and the degree of success varies among individuals. Anatomical differences in brain structure prior to training can partly explain why some learn more than others. We followed a sample of conscript interpreters undergoing intense language training to study learning-related changes in white-matter microstructure (FA, MD, RD and AD) and associations between differences in brain structure prior to training with acquired language proficiency. No evidence for changes in white matter microstructure relative to a control group was found. Starting values of RD, AD and MD were positively related to final test scores of language proficiency, corroborating earlier findings in the field and highlighting the need for further study of how initial brain structure influences and interacts with learning outcomes.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
diffusion tensor imaging, interpreting, language acquisition
in
Bilingualism
volume
23
issue
4
pages
9 pages
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85081306968
ISSN
1366-7289
DOI
10.1017/S1366728920000152
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7ea52e2b-c65b-430f-9eb9-9a8a872fd190
date added to LUP
2020-04-10 13:18:57
date last changed
2024-02-16 13:55:19
@article{7ea52e2b-c65b-430f-9eb9-9a8a872fd190,
  abstract     = {{<p>Adult foreign language acquisition is challenging, and the degree of success varies among individuals. Anatomical differences in brain structure prior to training can partly explain why some learn more than others. We followed a sample of conscript interpreters undergoing intense language training to study learning-related changes in white-matter microstructure (FA, MD, RD and AD) and associations between differences in brain structure prior to training with acquired language proficiency. No evidence for changes in white matter microstructure relative to a control group was found. Starting values of RD, AD and MD were positively related to final test scores of language proficiency, corroborating earlier findings in the field and highlighting the need for further study of how initial brain structure influences and interacts with learning outcomes.</p>}},
  author       = {{Mårtensson, Johan and Eriksson, Johan and Bodammer, Nils Christian and Lindgren, Magnus and Johansson, Mikael and Nyberg, Lars and Lövdén, Martin}},
  issn         = {{1366-7289}},
  keywords     = {{diffusion tensor imaging; interpreting; language acquisition}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{763--771}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Bilingualism}},
  title        = {{White matter microstructure predicts foreign language learning in army interpreters}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1366728920000152}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1366728920000152}},
  volume       = {{23}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}