RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 An individualized fMRI protocol to assess semantic congruency effects on episodic memory in an aging multilingual population
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.09.07.459272
DO 10.1101/2021.09.07.459272
A1 Magali Perquin
A1 Shivakumar Viswanathan
A1 Michel Vaillant
A1 Okka Risius
A1 Laetitia Huiart
A1 Jean-Claude Schmit
A1 Nico J. Diederich
A1 Gereon R. Fink
A1 Juraj Kukolja
YR 2022
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2022/06/29/2021.09.07.459272.abstract
AB The cognitive stimulation induced by multilingualism may slow down age-related memory impairment. However, a suitable neuroscientific framework to assess the influence of multilingualism on age-related memory processes is missing. We propose an experimental paradigm that assesses the effects of semantic congruency on episodic memory using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). To this end, we modified the picture-word interference (PWI) task to be suitable for the assessment of older multilingual subjects undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In particular, stimulus materials were prepared in multiple languages (French, German, Luxembourgish, English) and closely matched in semantic properties, thus enabling participants to perform the experiment in a language of their choice. This paradigm was validated in a group (n = 62) of healthy, older participants (over 64 years) who were multilingual, all practicing three or more languages. Consistent with the engagement of semantic congruency processes, we found that the encoding and recognition of semantically related vs. unrelated picture-word pairs evoked robust differences in behavior and the neural activity of parietal-temporal networks. These effects were negligibly modulated by the language used to perform the task. Based on this validation in a multilingual population, we conclude that the proposed paradigm will allow future studies to evaluate whether multilingualism aptitude engages neural systems in a manner that protects long-term memory from aging-related decline.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.