Investigation of Neurophysiological Functioning During Oral Comprehension Task

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The oral comprehension (OC) of a second language (L2) involves different cognitive processes, specially during the learning phase. This study aims at investigating the neurophysiological functioning of different steps involved in this oral understanding.

Detailed Description
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Here, the investigators seek for the different neurophysiological processes involved in OC according to the level of understanding (2 levels) and its different phases (fluid, hindered and metacognitive feedback). This study therefore requires three different research methodologies : an interactive system dedicated to the boundary delimitations of obstacles during OC an investigation of the autonomic nervous system responses (measurement of electrodermal activity and heart rate variability) that will likely occur differently during different phases of the OC process an investigation of the central responses (through fMRI technique), coupled with autonomous responses, that will identify the different neural networks in the different stages of the OC process.

Official Title
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Investigation of Neurophysiological Functioning During Oral Comprehension Task. An Exploratory Study in Second Language (Italian) Learning in French Students Using Autonomic and Cerebral Investigation

Conditions
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Learning, Language, Comprehension

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: behavior
* Diagnostic Test: physiology
* Diagnostic Test: imaging


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: French learner in Italian language right-handed affiliated to French social security informed consent signed Exclusion Criteria: pregnant woman audiologic pathology impacting the capacity of hearing neurologic or psychiatric pathology that may interfere with oral comprehension learning disability (for instance: dyslexia) contra-indication to MRI and to EDA acquisition

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| A2 level<br>Level of oral comprehension in italian language | Diagnostic Test: behavior<br>* behavioral measurements will be performed during the oral comprehension testing<br>Diagnostic Test: physiology<br>* physiologic (autonomic) measurements will be performed during the oral comprehension testing<br>* Other names: autonomic;Diagnostic Test: imaging<br>* central (brain) measurements will be performed during the oral comprehension testing<br>* Other names: fMRI;|
| B2 level<br>Level of oral comprehension in italian language | Diagnostic Test: behavior<br>* behavioral measurements will be performed during the oral comprehension testing<br>Diagnostic Test: physiology<br>* physiologic (autonomic) measurements will be performed during the oral comprehension testing<br>* Other names: autonomic;Diagnostic Test: imaging<br>* central (brain) measurements will be performed during the oral comprehension testing<br>* Other names: fMRI;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Sympathetic activity | ElectroDermal Activity (EDA) measured in µS | up to 3 months following the language profile completion | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Parasympathetic activity | Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measured using the relative power of the high-frequency (HF) component of the HRV (in % of the total power) | up to 3 months following the language profile completion | 
| Activated brain regions demonstrating brain activity | fMRI brain imaging data will be analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM12). | up to 6 months following the language profile completion | 
| Correlations between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity | correlation between EDA components measured in µS and relative power of the HF-HRV | up to 3 months following the language profile completion | 
| Interaction between sympathetic activity and brain activity | Correlation of EDA (µS) with fMRI brain imaging data | up to 6 months following the acquisition of language profile | 
| Interaction between parasympathetic activity and brain activity | Correlation of relative HF component of HRV with the fMRI brain imaging data | up to 6 months following the acquisition of language profile | 
| Linguistic evaluation | Linguistic processes are assessed by performance score on the following tests: verbal fluency test in first language (number of items found in 1 min) verbal fluency test in second language (number of items found in 1 min) | up to 1 month following the acquisition of language profile | 
| Cognitive evaluation of executive functions | Cognitive evaluation assessed by the following tests: Trail Making Test (TMT-A and TMT-B) scores. Time duration (in seconds) for each subtest. Shortest duration meaning efficient executive functions | up to 1 month following the acquisition of language profile | 
| Cognitive evaluation of short term memory | WAIS4 subtest (measured by scores) | up to 1 month following the acquisition of language profile | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Language Learning, Oral comprehension, autonomic activity, brain activity