Electrophysiological Approaches to Understanding Second Language Acquisition: A Field Reaching its Potential

摘要: The present article provides a review of results from electrophysiological studies the neurocognition second language. After brief introduction to eventrelated potentials (ERPs), explores four sets findings recent language (L2) ERP research. First, longitudinal L2 research has demonstrated that neurocognitive processing changes qualitatively with time. Second, shown learners can evidence nativelike effects for grammatical features are in their first (L1) as well unique but may have more difficulty L1 instantiated differently L2. Third, emerging revealed individual differences ERPs be accounted by linguistic and nonlinguistic factors. Finally, empirical explicit implicit training contexts lead at high levels proficiency, development fuller signature, least syntactic processing. With continued interdisciplinary approaches sophisticated designs, is only beginning reach its potential promises uniquely inform central questions acquisition. As field acquisition matures, there growing interest provide fine-grained information about how different aspects processed what factors involved leads such One methodological approach great these electrophysiology, which technique recording electrical voltage produced cellular activity, including activity neurons. Recorded analyzed relation cognitive events, particular language, yield interpretable patterns data called event-related (ERPs). multidimensional regard timing nature processing, thus complementary set