言语学习引起的脑功能和结构变化

Functional and Structural Changes in the Cerebral Cortex by Language Learning

文章系统介绍了言语学习引起的脑功能和结构可塑性变化研究的最新进展，例如：第二语言的词汇--语义学习引起的脑功能变化主要受熟练程度的影响，而句法学习引起的脑功能变化主要受获得年龄的影响；实验室言语训练可以引起语言加工相关区域激活增强或减弱，以及出现新的激活区域；第二语言学习导致了左侧顶下皮层灰质密度增加。此外，文章还总结了言语学习的脑成像研究中常用的实验范式，并提出了有待于进一步解决的关键问题。

Technical innovations for measuring brain activity are shedding new light on the neural basis of language learning. In this report， we reviewed the advanced researches on functional and structural changes in the Cerebral Cortex by language learning， especially those using neuroimaging techniques， such as fMRI， PET and so on. 1) The results demonstrated the key role of the age of acquisition on the neural basis of L2 grammatical processing， but language proficiency on the neural underpinnings of L2 word learning; 2) Studies devoted to Language learning at laboratory showed a large variability， decrease or increase of activation at particular brain areas， or recruitment of new areas have been found as result of language learning. 3) Learning L2 increases the density of grey matter in the left inferior parietal cortex and that the degree of structural reorganization in this region is modulated by the proficiency attained and the age of acquisition. We also illustrated typical experimental paradigms usually used in these researches. Furthermore， we proposed some critical issues that need to be addressed in further researches.