Writing Rhythm Information And Its Processing Mechanism Instant Processing Research

Prosody, which comprises phonological properties such as intonation, stress, and rhythmic pattern, is important to spoken language processing. A number of studies have been conducted to investigate neural dynamics of prosodic processing in spoken language comprehension. However, little is known to what extent prosodic information constrains neuro-cognitive processes of written language processing. Based on the comprehensively theoretical and objective studies about prosody access of Chinese and alphabetic writing system, the present research investigated the processes of prosodic constraint by using eye movements recording and ERP technique.Study 1 explored the role of the prosodic constraints in the process of comprehension. A serial of experiments investigated what kinds of prosodic constraint were there in Chinese and to what extent these information were activated in silent sentence reading, using eye movements recording.Study 2 examined the time course of prosodic constraints in silent sentence reading. A serial of experiments investigated the processing of prosodic constraints and it's interactions with the semantic access/integration process by using the same paradigm and technique as study 1.Study 3 investigated the neural dynamics of prosodic processing. The present research investigated the features of brain when the brain was processing the two kinds of prosodic constraints and the interaction between prosody, phonology and the semantic using ERP. The conclusions provided evidences for the functional asymmetry of the two human cerebral hemispheres. At the same time, the study used LORETA to search the source of the electrical activities.Based on the above studies'results and analysis, the present research generally discussed the roles of prosodic constraints, the point of its interaction with other information, specific components in the processing of prosodic constraints, and the neural dynamics of prosodic processing. The main conclusions were drawn as follow:1. The prosodic constraints, no matter in the prosodic phrase or in the intonational phrase, had the same infuluence on the processing of sentence in reading. The sentences were processed easier when they were in accordance with the prosodic constraints, and the subjects rarely looked for the supporting information from the context. The rythem context led readers more quickily to get the meanings of the word which obeyed the the prosodic constraints. The context according with the standard rythem step and the context mismatching the standard rythem step did not have any differences of the impact on sentence processing.2. The comma used as the punctuations in reading promoted the processing of the sentences. The sentences had processed easier when having the comma to disambuite the sentences than did not have the comma, and had less reading time else. The interaction between the comma and the syntax took place at the early stage of the sentences processing.3. The interaction between the comma and the lexcial deflection took place at the early stage of processing. Lexcial and comma deflection both had an impact on stentences processing at the early stage. The comma had an affect on stentences processing no matter what the lexcial deflection was. The lexcial deflection had an affect on stentences processing only when the comma had biased the adjective modify the entire phrase.4. The interaction between the comma and the context took place at the later stage of processing.The context did not show its effect in the early stages of processing. In the process of integrating, the subjects looked for more support from the context information. When the context information and the meaning disambiguted by the comma contradicted with each other, it was more difficuity to process the sentence.5. Three distinct ERP components such as N120, N400, and P600 were elicited in the experiment. The mean amplitude of N120,P600 were larger for the sentence mismatching the prosodic constraints than the sentences according with the prosodic constraints. N400 had no differences under the two conditions. The two type prosodic constraints both affected the sentences processing at early stage, and had no differences under the two conditions. Also the two type prosodic constraints had the same processing region. The most actived region was left occipital lobe.6. The mean amplitude of P200,N400 were larger for the keywords when the intonation mismated consonant. At the early stage of processing, the intonation and the consonant had the same most actived region, which was in the left hemisphere. At the integration stage of processing, the intonation and the consonant also had the same most actived region, which was still in the left hemisphere. The results supported to The Functional Hypothesis in some degree.