This study had two goals: to clarify the relationship between electroencephalographic (EEG) features estimated while non-native speakers listened to a second language (L2) and their proficiency in L2 determined by a conventional paper test and to provide a predictive model for L2 proficiency based on EEG features. We measured EEG signals from 205 native Japanese speakers, who varied widely in English proficiency while they listened to natural speech in English. Following the EEG measurement, they completed a conventional English listening test for Japanese speakers. We estimated multivariate temporal response functions separately for word class, speech rate, word position, and parts of speech. We found significant negative correlations between listening score and 17 EEG features, which included peak latency of early components (corresponding to N1 and P2) for both open and closed class words and peak latency and amplitude of a late component (corresponding to N400) for open class words. On the basis of the EEG features, we generated a predictive model for Japanese speakers' English listening proficiency. The correlation coefficient between the true and predicted listening scores was 0.51. Our results suggest that L2 or foreign language ability can be assessed using neural signatures measured while listening to natural speech, without the need of a conventional paper test.

中文翻译：

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基于听自然语音时测得的脑电信号预测第二语言能力

本研究有两个目标：阐明非母语人士在听第二语言 (L2) 时估计的脑电图 (EEG) 特征与通过传统纸笔测试确定的 L2 熟练程度之间的关系，并提供 L2 熟练程度的预测模型基于脑电图特征。我们测量了 205 名以日语为母语的人的 EEG 信号，这些人在听自然的英语语音时，英语水平差异很大。在脑电图测量之后，他们完成了针对日本人的传统英语听力测试。我们分别估计了词类、语速、词位和词性的多元时间响应函数。我们发现听力分数与 17 个脑电图特征之间存在显着的负相关，其中包括开放类词和封闭类词的早期成分（对应于 N1 和 P2）的峰值延迟以及开放类词的后期成分（对应于 N400）的峰值延迟和幅度。在脑电图特征的基础上，我们生成了日本人英语听力水平的预测模型。真实听力分数和预测听力分数之间的相关系数为 0.51。我们的结果表明，可以使用在听自然语音时测量的神经特征来评估 L2 或外语能力，而无需传统的纸上测试。英语听力能力。真实听力分数和预测听力分数之间的相关系数为 0.51。我们的结果表明，可以使用在听自然语音时测量的神经特征来评估 L2 或外语能力，而无需传统的纸上测试。英语听力能力。真实听力分数和预测听力分数之间的相关系数为 0.51。我们的结果表明，可以使用在听自然语音时测量的神经特征来评估 L2 或外语能力，而无需传统的纸上测试。