ERIC Number: EJ1475208
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-May
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1522-7227
EISSN: EISSN-1522-7219
Available Date: 2025-04-29
Short-Term Exposure to Second Language Apps Modulates Brain Responses in Preschoolers
Sumie Leung1,2; Conrad Perry3; Jessica Guy1; Deborah Loats1; Kate Highfield4; Jordy Kaufman1
Infant and Child Development, v34 n3 e70015 2025
Previous research showed that short-term second language training modulates children's brain responses to language processing. However, little is known about whether short-term training from language-immersion apps would have the same effect on young children's neural processing of a newly learnt language. We examined the auditory event-related potentials generated by two groups of 3- to 5-year-old children (total N = 32; 14 male, 18 female; mean age = 49.6 months, SD = 6.0 months), in response to known and unknown non-native language words. The 'known' word stimuli were previously exposed to the children via either the ELLA language immersion applications ('ELLA' group) or flash cards ('FLASH' group). Electroencephalography data were analysed within early (200-300 ms) and late (400-600 and 600-800 ms) time-windows, to determine the main and interaction effects of group (ELLA vs. FLASH) and condition (KNOWN vs. UNKNOWN). We found that the early positive potential (of both groups) for the known words was significantly larger than that for the unknown words. Further, the early negative potential of the apps group was significantly larger than that of the flash card group. Our study showed that short-term training with language-immersion apps modulates language processing in preschool children's brains differently compared to digital flash cards.
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Computer Oriented Programs, Cognitive Processes, Brain, Preschool Children, Language Processing, Instructional Effectiveness, Instructional Materials
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia; 2Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; 3Faculty of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; 4Faculty of Education, University of Canberra, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia