Second Language Auditory Perception and Comprehension from the Perspective of Neural Oscillations

Abstract: For second language learners, processing language as quickly and accurately as native speakers poses a significant challenge. With the recent advancements in high-temporal-resolution neurophysiological techniques (EEG/MEG), neural oscillations offer a new research perspective on the neural mechanisms of second language processing. This review examines the neural oscillatory phenomena related to speech perception and comprehension in second language learners. Findings suggest that the relationship between the first language and the tracking intensity of the first language may yield different conclusions due to varying research methods and experimental designs. Bilingual background, particularly proficiency, emerges as a key factor influencing neural oscillations in speech perception and comprehension for second language learners. Language switching, a common occurrence in bilingual language use, imposes greater cognitive load, manifesting as alterations in δ and θ oscillatory power at the neural level.