Processing of language specific stimuli among Estonian and Russian native speakers: an EEG study

Abstract

Two almost identical EEG experiments were conducted with about one month between them to examine how the brain processes language specific stimuli among Estonian (n =15, aged 19-27 years) and Russian (n = 15, aged 18-27 years) native speakers. The used stimuli were based on Estonian quantity changes, which are not structurally common for Russian speakers. Two different linguistic stimulus sets (SADA, SAGI) and one physically similar tone stimulus set were used, stimuli differed from each other by duration and tonal change. During the EEG recording, participants had to watch a silent movie while auditory language stimuli were presented in an MMN experimental paradigm to their headphones. An additional speech intelligibility test was conducted on both times and self-reported questionnaire had to be filled before the testing. The tone stimulus elicited a more persistent MMN wave with larger amplitude in both language group, linguistic stimuli elicited a more pronounced MMN response among Estonian native speakers. The study provided a slight support to previous findings, as the Estonians used both durational and pitch cue to discriminate quantities. Only few used conditions elicited MMN among Russian native speakers with no complete clarity if the activity was caused by durational or pitch cue (or both). No consistent lateralization effect was found nor relationships with possible background factors (language abilities, musicality, language experience and time spent in Estonian language environment for Russian native speakers).