Word generation in bilinguals - fMRI study with implications for language and memory processes

For over a century the cerebral representation of language functions is a m atter of debate. In Neuroscience language is regarded as one of the most la teralized cognitive functions. Thus, while the language which is acquired f irst in most cases is processed by the left hemisphere some studies in brai n damaged but also experimental investigations propose a pivotal role of th e right hemisphere in second language processing. By the advent of modern n euroimaging it is now possible to study language lateralization and bilingu ality also in healthy subjects. We studied first and second language abilit ies in a group of bilingual, healthy individuals by means of functional mag netic resonance imaging (fMRI) with a word-fluency paradigm. While we found a predominantly left prefrontal activity during both first and also second language processing an additional right prefrontal activation was register ed during the use of second language. Our findings are discussed on the bas is of an interaction between language and memory processes.