A Study Of The Difference Of Language Cognition Between Uighur And Chinese In Event-related Potentials(ERP)

Object:This study aimed at using event-related potentials (ERP) N400with paradims in visual pattern toexplore the differences in the brain cognition of the Uyghur/Chinese bilinguals.Methods:The ERP N400was recorded with10/20systerms using Neuroscan evoked potentials.54Uyghur/Chinese bilinguals from Shihezi University were participanted in this study. The ERP was testedusing “picture-word” and “sentence-word” as stimuli presenting in visual pattern, including Uyghur andChinese, composed of nouns and verbs. Then we analyzed the peak latency and amplitude. And SPSSstatistical software was used to statistical analyze.Results:1Characteristics of N400in Uyghur group1.1Waveform characteristics: The latency of N400was longer in mismatch than in match, and theamplitude of N400was lower in match than in mismatch (P<0.05).1.2The peak latency and the amplitude of difference waves: Uyghur (366.633±7.250ms) was shorterthan Chinese (398.771±7.250ms) in latency(P<0.01), and higher at amplitude (P<0.05), except at left, rightfrontal and occipital.1.3Electroencephalotopogram: The cerebral activation areas of Uyghur were almost all exceptoccipital, and the degree of activation of Chinese was less than Uyghur, only parietal and bilateral frontalwere higher.1.4Source tracing of N400: The cerebral activation areas were frontal lobe, limbic lobe and parietallobe in Uyghur; while sub-lobar, temporal lobe, frontal lobe and limbic lobe in Chinese.2Characteristics of N400in Uyghur/Chinese bilingual group2.1Waveform characteristics: The amplitude of N400was lower in match than in violation (P<0.05).2.2The peak latency and the amplitude of difference wave: nouns (3.468±0.625μV)were higher thanverbs(1.323±0.521μV) whether in Uyghur or Chinese (F=21.995，P＜0.01). And the amplitude of Uyghurwas higher than Chinese at some electrodes. And amplitude of Uyghur sentence and nouns was higher thanChinese sentence and nouns, except right temporal. While amplitude of Uyghur sentence and verbs washigher than Chinese sentence and verbs at central, bilateral parietal, central occipital and righttemporal(F=7.472，P＜0.05).3Characteristics of N400in Uyghur illiterate bilingual group3.1Waveform characteristics: The latency of N400was longer in mismatch than in match, and theamplitude of N400was lower in match than in mismatch (P<0.05).3.2The peak latency and the amplitude of difference wave: lantency of Chinese picture and word N400in Uyghur group(397.152±5.841ms) was later than Uyghur illiterate group(373.553±9.142ms)(F=29.023，P＜0.01).Conclusion:1Uyghur and Chinese of Uyghur/Chinese bilinguals were both sensitive to semantic priming. Andprocessing of nouns was easier than verbs. The processing of the second language (L2) of Uyghur/Chinesebilinguals was mainly affected by their proficient of L2.2Semantic cognition of two languages of non-proficient late Uyghur/Chinese bilinguals was allcompleted by bilateral cerebral hemispheres. We have not found obvious lateralization on two languages ofour bilinguals. There were same cerebral activation areas in Uyghur and Chinese of bilinguals, while thetwo languages had their specific areas.