Current Directions in Psychological Science ( IF 7.867 ) Pub Date : 2020-11-16 , DOI: 10.1177/0963721420964095 Kara D. Federmeier 1, 2, 3 , Suzanne R. Jongman 1 , Jakub M. Szewczyk 1
When we use language, we combine sounds, signs, and letters into words that then form sentences, which together tell a story. Both language production and language comprehension rely on representations that need to be continuously and rapidly activated, selected, and combined. These representations are specific to language, but many processes that regulate their use, such as inhibition of competitors or updating of working memory, are domain-general abilities that apply across different kinds of tasks. Here, we provide an overview of the behavioral and neurophysiological evidence for domain-general abilities underpinning language skills and describe which aspects of production and comprehension draw on such cognitive resources. We discuss how this line of research reveals important similarities between production and comprehension and also helps establish links between language and other cognitive domains. Finally, we argue that studying how domain-general abilities are used in language leads to important insights into the highly dynamic communication between brain networks that is necessary to successfully go from sounds to stories.
中文翻译:
检验一般认知技能在语言处理中的作用:进入复杂认知的窗口
当我们使用语言时,我们将声音,符号和字母组合成单词,然后形成句子,一起讲述一个故事。语言产生和语言理解都依赖于需要连续快速地激活,选择和组合的表示形式。这些表示特定于语言,但是许多规范其使用的过程(例如,禁止竞争者或更新工作记忆)是适用于不同类型任务的领域通用能力。在这里,我们概述了支持语言技能的领域通用能力的行为和神经生理学证据,并描述了生产和理解的哪些方面都利用了这种认知资源。我们讨论了这方面的研究如何揭示生产与理解之间的重要相似之处,以及如何帮助建立语言与其他认知领域之间的联系。最后,我们认为,研究语言中如何使用领域通用能力会导致对大脑网络之间高度动态交流的重要见解,这对于成功地从声音转换为故事是必不可少的。