Are you really cursing? Neural processing of taboo words in native and foreign language

doi:10.1016/j.bandl.2019.05.003

Brain and Language

Volume 194, July 2019, Pages 84-92

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2019.05.003 Get rights and content

Highlights

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We used fMRI to investigate the neural correlates of taboo words in L1 and L2.
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L1: taboo words are processed more efficiently than non-taboo words.
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L2: taboo words processing engages additional structures such as ACC and insula.
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We provide new insights on the language/social norm processing interface.

Abstract

The use of socially opprobrious words (taboo words) is a cross-cultural phenomenon occurring between individuals from almost all social extractions. The neurocognitive correlates of using taboo words in the native language (L1) as compared to their use in a second (L2) language are largely unknown. We used fMRI to investigate the processing of taboo and non-taboo stimuli in monolinguals (Experiment 1) and highly proficient bilinguals (Experiment 2) engaged in lexical decision tasks. We report that for L1 socio-pragmatic knowledge is automatically conveyed and taboo words are processed with less effort than non-taboo words. For L2 the processing of taboo words is more effortful and engages additional structures (anterior cingulate cortex, insula) involved in social-norm representation and evaluation. Our results contribute to understand the interface between language and social-norm processing indicating that lexical processing is affected by socio-pragmatic knowledge, but only when the speaker has a contextual use of the 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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View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Are you really cursing? Neural processing of taboo words in native and foreign language

Highlights

Abstract

Section snippets

Participants

Behavioral results

Discussion

Statement of significance

Author contributions

Brain and Language

Neuroimage

Journal of Pragmatics

Cortex

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Trends in Cognitive Sciences

Trends in Cognitive Science

Neuropsychologia

Neuroimage

Cortex

Neuropsychologia

Neuron

Neuropsychologia

Brain Research Reviews

Neuron

Bilingualism tunes the anterior cingulate cortex for conflict monitoring

Cerebral Cortex

Affective influences on the attentional dynamics supporting awareness

Journal of Experimental Psychology: General

The social brain and reward: social information processing in the human striatum

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Cognitive Science

Semantic interference and its control: A functional neuroimaging and connectivity study

Human Brain Mapping

Brain activation for lexical decision and reading aloud: two sides of the same coin?

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience

Moral judgment depends on language

PLoS One

ACC sulcal patterns and their modulation on cognitive control efficiency across lifespan: A neuroanatomical study on bilinguals and monolinguals

Cerebral Cortex

How do speakers resist distraction? Evidence from a taboo picture-word interference task

Psychological Science

Mirroring the social aspects of speech and actions: the role of the insula

Cerebral Cortex

Statistical parametric maps in functional imaging: A general linear approach

Hum Brain Mapping.