Effect of rTMS of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on Language Production in Healthy Participants

Background:

Several studies investigating healthy or clinical populations have shown that (r)TMS applied over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has an effect on language-related processes such as verbal working memory (Osaka et al., 2007), sentence comprehension (Cotelli et al., 2011) and language switching (Holtzheimer et al., 2005, Nardone et al., 2011).

Clinical observations and neuroimaging studies seem to confirm the role of executive functions and frontal structures in language processing in monolingual and bilingual subjects (e.g. Fabbro et al., 2000, Abutalebi & Green 2007). However, only few studies investigated the effects of modulation of cognitive control-networks on lexical access.

Aim and procedure:

The study will investigate the role of the DLPFC and executive functioning in L1 and L2 language processing. The core question is whether rTMS over the DLPFC will influence lexical access and language production.

Each participant will take part in two sessions: 1. rTMS session 2. Sham rTMS session. After the application of rTMS/Sham rTMS, the participants will conduct two language tasks (translation, picture naming) and a non-verbal task, while the EEG is recorded.

Inclusion criteria

• L1 French, knowledge of English as a foreign language
• 18-45 years of age
• Right-handedness

Exclusion criteria

• epilepsy /family history of epilepsy
• brain surgery, traumatic brain injuries
• cardiac pacemaker, metallic objects in the body
• history of neurological diseases or psychiatric disorders
• drug use (alcohol, psychoactive medication)
• developmental language disorder