Cognitive Science Research Talk: From basic sensory stimuli to signed sentences: Behavioral findings and neural correlates of linguistic and non-linguistic processing in deaf sign language users

Cognitive Science Research Talk
From basic sensory stimuli to signed sentences: Behavioral findings and neural correlates of linguistic and non-linguistic processing in deaf sign language users

Agnes Villwok, Dr. rer. nat. (PhD equivalent)
Associate Professor of Sign Languages
Institute for Rehabilitation Sciences Humboldt- Universität zu Berlin

Abstract:
At all times in everyday life, our brain receives and processes signals from the different sensory systems. Importantly, the perceptual system is not fully present at birth but develops as a function of individual experience. Understanding how differences in experiences can result in differences in cognition is crucial to understanding the potential and constraints of neuroplasticity. In this talk, I will present experimental and neuroscientific data focusing on both the processing of low-level sensory input and language in deaf signers and hearing controls. For non-linguistic processing, my findings suggest that congenital deafness modulates the processing of vision and touch as well as their multisensory interaction – however, these differences seem to be mostly evident for motion processing. Regarding language processing, while experiences in the Deaf Community vary highly, deaf signers are almost universally bimodal bilingual users of a signed language and a spoken language, the latter often in its written form. A better understanding of how two languages that do not share the same modality are processed during development and adulthood is crucial to identifying the important factors in successful language acquisition and literacy. The results of my work indicate that co-activation of signs and written words can be observed in deaf adults as well as during development. Concerning the underlying neural basis of sign language processing, I will present data which indicate that – as long as an individual experiences a typical acquisition of a first language – syntactic processing is not altered by the sensory-motor channel of language reception and expression.

Intended Audience:
All are welcome

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