Au, A., and Meng, W-J. (2009) Are cerebellar functions more related to the processing of Chinese than English? In: Proceedings of the 36th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference. From: 36th Australasian Experimental Psychology Conference, 17-19 April 2009, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.

PDF (Published Version) Restricted to Repository staff only

Abstract

Research showed that cerebellar functions such as verbal fluency, semantic fluency and postural stability are related to reading ability. However, little is known if another function of the cerebellum, semantic decision, is also related to reading ability. Moreover, since Chinese is logographic and more semantically based while English is alphabetic and more phonologically-based, we investigated if the semantic and cerebellar measures were more related to the processing of Chinese than to the processing of English. Sixty Chinese undergraduates participated in various Chinese and English reading and spelling tests. Measures in semantic association, verbal fluency, semantic fluency and postural stability were taken. Contrary to our expectation, there were more significant correlations among the cerebellar and English measures than among the cerebellar and Chinese measures. Semantic decision significantly predicted Chinese exam, reading and spelling scores. Semantic decision and semantic fluency predicted English exam, spelling and reading (including irregular word reading). Semantic decision, verbal and semantic fluency also predicted English pseudoword reading. Cerebellar functions seemed to be more relevant to the processing of English than Chinese in the Chinese population. Semantic decision can be used as an indicator for screening students with reading difficulties.

Item ID:	5661
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
ISBN:	978-0-909881-40-5
Keywords:	cerebellum, reading
Related URLs:	http://www.asep.com.au/
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2010 23:36
FoR Codes:	17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1701 Psychology > 170101 Biological Psychology (Neuropsychology, Psychopharmacology, Physiological Psychology) @ 60% 17 PSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES > 1702 Cognitive Science > 170204 Linguistic Processes (incl Speech Production and Comprehension) @ 40%
SEO Codes:	93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9301 Learner and Learning > 930102 Learner and Learning Processes @ 100%
Downloads:	Total: 3
	More Statistics