Reading fiction in a foreign language reduces the neural synchronization between semantic and emotional areas
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21697484 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Tatiana Davydova (0000-0001-7091-5028, Universitat Jaume I), Lidón Marin Marin (University of York), Lidón Marín-Marín (0000-0003-2036-762X, University of York), Marc-Lluís Vives (0000-0002-2268-6344, Leiden University), María Baena Pérez (Universitat Jaume I), Eva María Rubio (0000-0001-8385-3540, Universitat Jaume I), Eva Calderón Rubio (Universitat Jaume I), Maya Visser (0000-0001-6302-0672, Universitat Jaume I), Victor Costumero (0000-0002-8743-5239, Universitat Jaume I, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 576-587 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Bilingualism Language and Cognition (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1366-7289 • E-ISSN: 1469-1841 |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1017/s1366728925100187 |
| OpenAlex | W4411846881 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 96 |
Unbalanced bilinguals often exhibit reduced emotionality in their non-native language, although the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. This fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) study investigated neural differences during a silent reading task where late Spanish–English bilinguals read happy, fearful and neutral fiction passages in their first (L1) and second (L2) languages. We observed a significant language-by-emotionality interaction in the left hippocampus while participants read fearful texts, indicating a stronger limbic system response in L1. Functional connectivity analyses revealed lower coupling between semantic (left anterior temporal lobe) and limbic (left amygdala) regions when reading fearful texts in L2, suggesting less integrated emotional processing. Overall, these findings show that emotional reading in unbalanced bilinguals is strongly influenced by language, with a higher emotional response and more integrated connectivity between semantic and affective areas in the native language
Cognitive psychology · Foreign language · Linguistics · Mathematics education · Action Observation and Synchronization · Computer Science · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2026 - 2026 (1) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |