18' GOALS FOR FELLOWSHIP TRAINING AND CAREER of Pennsylvania Dr. John Trueswell of Edinburgh Dr. Ewan Klein of Illinois at Urbana Champaign INSTITUTION/COM PANY SUPERVISOR/EM PLOY ER University of Washington Dr. David Corina Moss Rehab. Research Inst. Dr. Gary Dell Dr. Myrna Schwartz Dr. Eleanor Saffran My experimental training as a graduate student emphasized the design and critical analysis of reaction-time based experiments for the study of on-line sentence processing. I now wish to apply this knowledge to the use of the electrophysiological methods of Event-Related Brain potentials in the study of sentence processing. Dr Osterhout is a leading expert in this area, and an ideal mentor for my training. The activities outlined in my proposal allow me to learn electrophysiological techniques that will enable me to study language processing from a new viewpoint. I hope to bring to ERP research a perspective influenced by statistical, computational models of language processing, which were my second concentration during graduate studies and post- doctoral research. After my postdoctoral training is complete, I hope to integrate ERPs into the study of on- line sentence processing. Knowledge of this technique will strongly enhance my ability to pursue an independent career of research and teaching in an academic setting. SPONSOR 19. NAME AND DEGREE(S) Lcc ,-.,..,,,..h,,,, _, 20. POSITION/RANK 21. RESEARCH INTERESTS/AREAS Cognitive Neuroscience, Psycholinguistics, Psychophysiology 22. DESCRIPTION (Do not exceed space provided) The overall goal of the research proposed here is to investigate the nature of syntactic processing during human language comprehension. The applicant will train in the use of event-related brain potentials (ERP) to study this issue. ERPs will be measured from participants as they engage in otherwise normal reading of sentences. Sentences will contain temporary syntactic ambiguities, and the research will investigate the processingdedicated to resolving these ambiguities. Factors manipulated will include the semantic fit between nouns and their thematic roles and the syntactic bias of particular nouns. The research will investigate the role of nouns in the resolution of syntactic ambiguities. The research will use known waveforms (e.g., P600, N400) to index particular cognitive functions. It will also attempt to use the proposed experiments to extend the understanding of those waveforms. PHS 416-1 (Rev. 12/98) Form Page 2 BB CC NAME (Last, first, middle initial) Individual NRSA Application Table of Contents ========================================Section End===========================================
| McLaughlin, Judith; Osterhout, Lee; Kim, Albert (2004) Neural correlates of second-language word learning: minimal instruction produces rapid change. Nat Neurosci 7:703-4 |
