Music Reading Expertise Modulates Hemispheric Lateralization in English Word Processing but not in Chinese Character Processing

Li Tze Kwan, Janet H. Hsiao

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recent research has shown that expertise in English and music reading both rely more on left hemisphere (LH) processing whereas Chinese character processing is more bilateral. Accordingly, music-reading expertise may influence hemispheric lateralization in English word processing more than in Chinese processing due to stronger competition in LH processing. Here we recruited musicians and non-musicians in a divided visual field study of English word and Chinese character naming. In English word processing, whereas non-musicians showed a typical right visual field (RVF)/LH advantage, musicians showed a left visual field (LVF)/right hemisphere (RH) advantage and responded significantly faster than non-musicians in both the LVF and the center position. This effect may be due to competition for LH processing between music and English reading expertise, making musicians' English word processing more right-lateralized. In contrast, in Chinese character naming, both musicians and non-musicians showed a similar bilateral pattern. This result suggests that music reading experience may have differential influences on the processing of different languages, depending on their similarities in the cognitive processes involved.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2015
EditorsDavid C. Noelle, Rick Dale, Anne Warlaumont, Jeff Yoshimi, Teenie Matlock, Carolyn D. Jennings, Paul P. Maglio
Pages1344-1349
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9780991196722
Publication statusPublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event37th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Mind, Technology, and Society, CogSci 2015 - Pasadena, United States
Duration: 23 Jul 201525 Jul 2015

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, CogSci 2015

Conference

Conference37th Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society: Mind, Technology, and Society, CogSci 2015
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPasadena
Period23/07/1525/07/15

Keywords

  • Chinese reading
  • English reading
  • Music reading expertise
  • lateralization
  • visual word processing

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