Are you really cursing? Neural processing of taboo words in native and foreign language
Section snippets
Participants
Participants comprised 22 high-proficient Italian-English bilinguals (13 females, MEAN age: 23.23, SD: 2.41) and 22 Italian monolinguals (12 females, MEAN age: 23.5, SD: 3.58). This sample size was determined on the basis of prior fMRI research on word processing and was similar to that used in previous studies in our lab that link fMRI signals to behavior (e.g., Abutalebi et al., 2012, Canini et al., 2016). Data from two monolingual participants were excluded (1 for excessive movements in the
Behavioral results
Fig. 1 reports mean RTs, accuracy, and offensive ratings for conditions and groups. All the three measures were analyzed in order to investigate potential differences in the processing of non-taboo words and taboo words in L1 and L2.
For monolinguals, the one-way ANOVA with word type (non-taboo vs. taboo) as within-participants factor showed that taboo words were categorized more slowly than non-taboo words (F (1,19) = 7.05, p = 0.01); moreover, taboo words were numerically (but not
Discussion
Two event-related fMRI experiments were conducted with two aims: 1) identifying the neural correlates of taboo words; and 2) investigating whether these correlates are similar when processing occurs in L1 and L2. We start by addressing our first aim and discuss the results for both monolinguals and bilinguals' L1; we then address our second aim by mainly discussing the results for bilinguals' L2.
Taboo words were perceived as more offensive than non-taboo words, confirming the inappropriateness
Statement of significance
This work contributes to understand the neurocognitive interface between language and social-norm processing reporting that language is affected by socio-pragmatic knowledge only when contextual use of language is available as demonstrated here in mono- and bilinguals. As such it is highly significant to the understanding of the neurobiology of language.
Author contributions
J.A., A.C., R.J., and S.S. developed the study concept. M.T., D.F., and N.D.M. performed testing and data collection. M.T. and S.S. performed data analysis. J.A., A.C., R.J. and S.S. interpreted the results. S.S. drafted the manuscript and all other authors provided critical revisions. J.A., N.D.M., D.F., R.J., S.S. and M.T. approved the final version of the manuscript for submission. By the time of submission, our dear friend, colleague and co-author A.C. unexpectedly passed away. Our thoughts
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