PPubMed16 Jun 2026

Lexical Representations of the Native and Second Languages During L2 Word Reading in Chinese–English Bilinguals

Xiaoyu Liu, Lala Gu, Xiaoxue Feng, Yuan Feng, Xingying Lin, Nannan Gu, Leilei Mei

Abstract

The non-selective processing hypothesis for bilinguals posits that during the processing of the target language, the lexical information of the non-target language is concurrently activated. Nonetheless, the lexical representation of bilinguals in both languages and the temporal dynamics of lexical information representation remain unclear. Here, we utilized fMRI in Experiment 1 and EEG in Experiment 2, combined with representational similarity analysis (RSA), to explore the neural representation of lexical access in both the target and non-target languages during L2 word reading and the modulatory effects of processing demands. Results of two Experiments jointly revealed that the lexical information of L2 was represented widely and earlier during L2 lexical processing, whereas the lexical information of L1 was represented widely and earlier during L2 semantic processing. These findings provide spatiotemporally integrated evidence for the bilingual non-selective access hypothesis, indicating that non-selective processing occurs only under conditions of high semantic processing demands.

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L2 lexical information is accessed early and broadly, while L1 info emerges later, confirming non-selective bilingual processing only under high semantic demand.

What’s new

i.Combined fMRI and EEG with representational similarity analysis to map spatiotemporal lexical representations in bilinguals.
ii.Showed that L2 lexical information is represented widely and earlier during L2 word reading.
iii.Demonstrated that L1 lexical information appears earlier during L2 semantic processing, supporting non‑selective access under high semantic demand.
iv.Identified specific brain regions (e.g., PO, pSTG, FG) where these representations occur.

How they did it

Experiment 1 used fMRI while participants performed lexical decision and semantic judgment tasks on L2 words, applying RSA to neural patterns across eight reading‑related ROIs. Experiment 2 recorded EEG during the same tasks, extracting N170, P200, and N400 components and conducting spatiotemporal RSA. Together the multimodal approach examined when and where lexical information from both languages is represented.

What they found

Lexical decision task: L2 orthographic information represented in PO (r=0.05, p=0.022), aSMG (r=0.04, p=0.032), and pITG (r=0.03, p=0.042).
L2 phonological information showed significant RSA correlations in multiple ROIs, e.g., pSTG (r=0.08, p<0.0001) and FG (r=0.07, p=0.001).
Behavioral accuracy: lexical decision 0.98 (SD=0.025) with RT 588.43 ms; semantic judgment 0.996 (SD=0.006) with RT 503.92 ms.
Whole‑brain RSA revealed widespread L2 lexical representation during lexical decision, but no detectable L1 orthographic/phonological representation.

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