2026.05.11
Research Results
Prof. Jeong et al.’s Study on L2 Speech and Brain Activity Published in Bilingualism: Language and Cognition
A collaborative research paper by Professor Hyeonjeong Jeong’s laboratory (Applied Linguistics) and Professor Andrea Révész from University College London (UCL) has been published in Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, a top-tier (Q1) journal ranked in the top 10% of the field.
Using fMRI, this study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying spontaneous speech production during disaster-related decision-making tasks. The findings revealed that in second language (L2) speech, distinct brain regions are recruited for linguistic encoding and conceptual integration depending on whether silent pauses occur mid-clause or at boundaries. These patterns differ significantly from first language (L1) processing, reflecting the unique cognitive load of L2 speech planning. As the first fMRI study to examine spontaneous L2 production, these results offer new insights into the neural basis of communication during emergency situations.
Read the full paper here:https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728926101011
Using fMRI, this study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying spontaneous speech production during disaster-related decision-making tasks. The findings revealed that in second language (L2) speech, distinct brain regions are recruited for linguistic encoding and conceptual integration depending on whether silent pauses occur mid-clause or at boundaries. These patterns differ significantly from first language (L1) processing, reflecting the unique cognitive load of L2 speech planning. As the first fMRI study to examine spontaneous L2 production, these results offer new insights into the neural basis of communication during emergency situations.
Read the full paper here:https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728926101011