Laterality in Emotional Language Processing in First and Second Language.

Raheleh Heyrani,Gesa Hartwigsen,Sara Abbasi,Vahid Nejati

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.736359

Abstract

Language is a cognitive function that is asymmetrically distributed across both hemispheres, with left dominance for most linguistic operations. One key question of interest in cognitive neuroscience studies is related to the contribution of both hemispheres in bilingualism. Previous work shows a difference of both hemispheres for auditory processing of emotional and non-emotional words in bilinguals and monolinguals. In this study, we examined the differences between both hemispheres in the processing of emotional and non-emotional words of mother tongue language and foreign language. Sixty university students with Persian mother tongue and English as their second language were included. Differences between hemispheres were compared using the dichotic listening test. We tested the effect of hemisphere, language and emotion and their interaction. The right ear (associated with the left hemisphere) showed an advantage for the processing of all words in the first language, and positive words in the second language. Overall, our findings support previous studies reporting left-hemispheric dominance in late bilinguals for processing auditory stimuli.

Highlights

Language is a cognitive function that is asymmetrically distributed across both hemispheres
This study suggested that multiple functions of verbal communication can be spared despite extensive damage to the right hemisphere (RH)
The present study examined hemispheric differences in the processing of emotional words in the mother tongue and second language

Summary

Introduction

Language is a cognitive function that is asymmetrically distributed across both hemispheres. Current models on the functional neuroanatomy of language favor left hemispheric dominance for key linguistic operations in language comprehension and production (e.g., Hickok and Poeppel, 2007; Friederici, 2011; Friederici and Gierhan, 2013; Hagoort and Indefrey, 2014). A dorsal, left-lateralized stream maps are involved in articulation via the interaction of superior temporal lobe, and premotor as well as prefrontal cortex These streams are underpinned by distinct anatomical fiber tracts that connect temporal areas with frontal regions (e.g., Friederici and Gierhan, 2013)

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