Early Setting of Grammatical Processing in the Bilingual Brain Isabell Wartenburger, Hauke R. Heekeren, Jubin Abutalebi, Stefano F. Cappa, Arno Villringer, Daniela Perani  Neuron  Volume 37, Issue 1, Pages 159-170 (January 2003) DOI: 10.1016/S0896-6273(02)01150-9

Figure 1 Behavioral Data and Proficiency Level (PL) Accuracy of responses during the scanning session (A), reaction times (B) and accuracy (C) as measured outside the scanner after the scanning session for each condition and group. PL (D) was determined (i) using a detailed language test in L2 and (ii) by a short language test in L1 and L2 (see Experimental Procedures). Note (1) that the LALP group was slower and less accurate than the high proficient groups and (2) that EAHP and LAHP do not show a statistically significant difference in any of the parameters (compare also Tables 1 and 2). Abbreviations: n, number of subjects available for the respective measurement; EAHP, early acquisition high proficiency; LAHP, late acquisition high proficiency; LALP, late acquisition low proficiency; L1, Italian, first language acquired; L2, German, second language acquired; Gram., grammatical judgment task; Sem., semantic judgment task. Median, quartile, and data range are displayed. Neuron 2003 37, 159-170DOI: (10.1016/S0896-6273(02)01150-9)

Figure 2 Between Group Comparison for Grammatical Judgment L2 Comparing the LAHP and EAHP group led to greater activation of the LAHP group in language-related regions (A); note that there were no behavioral differences (PL, reaction time, accuracy) between LAHP and EAHP. Comparing the LAHP and LALP group resulted in greater activation of the LAHP group in left temporo-parietal junction, right lingual gyrus, and right inferior parietal lobe (B). This indicates that age of acquisition and to a lesser degree proficiency level affect the cortical representation of grammatical processes. (Results of group analysis [n = 12 versus n = 11 and n = 9, respectively] superimposed on MNI template `colin27' in neurological convention [left is left]; Brodmann areas, x and z coordinates are given. Abbreviations: EAHP, early acquisition high proficiency; LAHP, late acquisition high proficiency; LALP, late acquisition low proficiency; L2, German, second language acquired.) Neuron 2003 37, 159-170DOI: (10.1016/S0896-6273(02)01150-9)

Figure 3 Main Effect of Language on Cerebral Representation of Grammatical Judgments Comparison of grammatical judgment L2 to grammatical judgment L1 within each group showed no differences in the EAHP group (A) but significant differences in language-related regions in both the LAHP group (B) and the LALP group (C), thus demonstrating that age of acquisition specifically affects the cortical representation of grammatical processes; note that there were no behavioral differences (PL, reaction time, accuracy) between EAHP and LAHP but differences between the low proficient and both high proficient groups (PL, accuracy; compare also Tables 1 and 2). (Results of group analysis [n = 11, 12, and 9, respectively] superimposed on MNI template `colin27' in neurological convention [left is left]; Brodmann areas, x and z coordinates are given. Abbreviations: EAHP, early acquisition high proficiency; LAHP, late acquisition high proficiency; LALP, late acquisition low proficiency; L1, Italian, first language acquired; L2, German, second language acquired.) Neuron 2003 37, 159-170DOI: (10.1016/S0896-6273(02)01150-9)

Figure 4 Main Effect of Language on Cerebral Representation of Semantic Judgments Comparison of semantic judgment L2 to semantic judgment L1 within the LAHP group showed significant activation differences despite similar behavioral performance, thus demonstrating the effect of age of acquisition on semantic processes. (Results of group analysis [n = 12] superimposed on MNI template `colin27' in neurological convention [left is left]; Brodmann areas, x and z coordinates are given. Abbreviations: LAHP, late acquisition high proficiency; L1, Italian, first language acquired; L2, German, second language acquired.) Neuron 2003 37, 159-170DOI: (10.1016/S0896-6273(02)01150-9)