Investigating object orientation effects across 18 languages

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Study at a glance

graph TD A["Read sentence implying
object shape and orientation"] --> B["Verify pictured object:
from the sentence or not"] B --> C["Test match advantage for orientation
across 18 languages,
nearly 4,000 participants"] C --> D["No compelling evidence for
an orientation match advantage"] C --> E["Match advantage not predicted
by mental rotation scores"] D --> F["Implications for mental simulation
theory and methodology"] E --> F

General project

Stage 1 Registered Report

Data from our lab

Video demonstration of the procedure followed in our lab

The value of conducting a replication study during a PhD.

Created using NotebookLM, with all the benefits and blind spots of human editing.

Reference

Chen, S.-C., Buchanan, E. M., Kekecs, Z., Miller, J. K., Szabelska, A., Aczel, B., Bernabeu, P., Forscher, P. S., Szuts, A., Vally, D. Z., Al-Hoorie, A. H., Helmy, M., Silva, C. S. A. da, Silva, L. O. da, Moraes, Y. L. de, Hsu, R. M. C. S., Mafra, A. L., Valentova, J. V., Varella, M. A. C., … Chartier, C. R. (2025). Investigating object orientation effects across 18 languages. Current Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08304-x

Multi-region investigation of ‘man’ as default in attitudes

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Study at a glance

graph TD A["Survey of over 5000 people
across more than 40 regions"] --> B["Globally distributed
laboratory network"] B --> C["Measure attitudes toward each group
and toward its men and women"] C --> D["Stronger link with the men:
Black people, politicians"] C --> E["Stronger link with the women:
White people"] C --> F["No difference: East Asian people,
police officers, criminals"] C --> G["Regional agreement with traditional
gender roles explored as moderator"]

Read the preregistration

Video demonstration of the procedure followed in our lab

Reference

Phills, C. E., Miller, J. K., Buchanan, E. M., Williams, A., Meyers, C., Brown, E. R., Zickfeld, J., Volsa, S., Stieger, S., Oberzaucher, E., Mlakic, V., Vasilev, M., Dalgar, İ., Çoksan, S., Söylemez, S., Solak, Ç., Özdoğru, A. A., Çoktok, B., Kung, C.-C., … Kekecs, Z. (2025). Multi-region investigation of ‘man’ as default in attitudes. PLOS ONE, 20(6), e0323938. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0323938

Starting from the very beginning: Unraveling third language (L3) development with longitudinal data from artificial language learning and EEG

Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Study at a glance

graph TD A["Bilinguals already fluent
in two languages"] --> B["Learn an artificial L3 from initial
exposure with complete input control"] B --> C["Longitudinal lab sessions
in Norway and Spain"] C --> D["EEG records brain activity
during learning"] E["Individual differences
in executive functions"] --> C F["History of bilingual
exposure and engagement"] --> C D --> G["Which prior language is a source
of cross-linguistic influence"] D --> H["How learning trajectories
develop over time"]

Read the preregistration

Reference

González Alonso, J., Bernabeu, P., Silva, G., DeLuca, V., Poch, C., Ivanova, I., & Rothman, J. (2025). Starting from the very beginning: Unraveling third language (L3) development with longitudinal data from artificial language learning and EEG. International Journal of Multilingualism, 1(22), 119–142. https://doi.org/10.1080/14790718.2024.2415993

Materials

Documentation practices and open-source software (namely, R and OpenSesame) were used to prepare the materials for the current study. In previous similar studies, the materials have not generally been very Findable, Accessible, Interoperable or Reusable (Cross et al., 2021; González Alonso et al., 2020; Mitrofanova et al., 2023; Morgan-Short et al., 2012; Pereira Soares et al., 2022). In contrast, in our study, the stimuli were prepared in R using a modular framework consisting of interoperable components (see https://osf.io/974k8). The modularity of this method facilitates the expansion of the materials within the same languages and to other languages. Specifically, the minimal components of each language were contained in a base file in the ‘stimulus_preparation’ folder. Furthermore, for the creation of the final stimuli, several controls were exerted to prevent spurious effects. For instance, gender and number were counterbalanced across experimental conditions, words were rotated across grammatical properties and sessions, and frequency of occurrence was controlled. The final stimuli can be recreated using the script ‘compile_all_stimuli.R’, and the resulting stimuli are saved to the ‘session_materials’ folder. Furthermore, the final stimuli were presented using OpenSesame, which is a free-of-charge software supporting experiments in the social sciences. The implementation of the four lab-based sessions in OpenSesame involved the use of conditions for controlling the engagement of certain items. In conclusion, the materials of the current study are accessible and the workflow is reproducible. As a result, the final materials are testable, modifiable and expandable, improving long-term efficiency.

References

Cross, Z. R., Zou-Williams, L., Wilkinson, E. M., Schlesewsky, M., & Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, I. (2021). Mini Pinyin: A modified miniature language for studying language learning and incremental sentence processing. Behavior Research Methods, 53(3), 1218–1239. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-020-01473-6

González Alonso, J., Alemán Bañón, J., DeLuca, V., Miller, D., Pereira Soares, S. M., Puig-Mayenco, E., Slaats, S., & Rothman, J. (2020). Event related potentials at initial exposure in third language acquisition: Implications from an artificial mini-grammar study. Journal of Neurolinguistics, 56, 100939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneuroling.2020.100939

Mitrofanova, N., Leivada, E., & Westergaard, M. (2023). Crosslinguistic influence in L3 acquisition: Evidence from artificial language learning. Linguistic Approaches to Bilingualism, 13(5), 717-742. https://doi.org/10.1075/lab.22063.mit

Morgan-Short, K., Finger, I., Grey, S., & Ullman, M. T. (2012). Second language processing shows increased native-like neural responses after months of no exposure. PLOS ONE, 7(3), e32974. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032974

Pereira Soares, S. M., Kupisch, T., & Rothman, J. (2022). Testing potential transfer effects in heritage and adult L2 bilinguals acquiring a mini grammar as an additional language: An ERP approach. Brain Sciences, 12(5), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12050669

Podcasts

Created using NotebookLM, with all the benefits and blind spots of human editing.

Contributors and acknowledgements

The present materials were created, documented and curated by Pablo Bernabeu, Gabriella Silva, Jorge González Alonso, My Ngoc Giang Hoang, Jason Rothman, Vincent DeLuca, Claudia Poch and Iva Ivanova.

We also received invaluable help and advice in various regards, as we gratefully acknowledge below. Any oversights or errors that remain are entirely our own and should not reflect on the generosity and expertise of those who assisted us.

My Ngoc Giang Hoang (recruitment of participants and piloting of sessions)
Mona Kirkness Fossum (translation of materials)
Gaute Berglund, Anders Gabrielsen, Tekabe Legesse Feleke (piloting of sessions)
Teodóra Vékony (alternating serial reaction time task)
Björn Lundquist (implementation in OpenSesame)
Antonio Fábregas, Natalia Mitrofanova, Yulia Rodina, Marit Westergaard (design and translation of materials and recruitment of participants)
Merete Anderssen, Fatih Bayram (recruitment of participants)

Lay summary

Do people learn a third language differently from their second one? For those already fluent in two languages, acquiring a third introduces specific complexities. We are investigating this process using artificial languages, which allow for precise control and observation of the learning experience.

In this study, we developed ‘mini-languages’ that replicate grammatical structures of real languages while minimising the need to learn a new vocabulary. The study, conducted in Norway and Spain, follows participants over time, aiming to understand how previous bilingual experience—especially based on structural similarities between languages—influences the learning of a new language.

By using electroencephalography to monitor brain activity, we will examine which prior language(s) serve as sources of transfer in the learning of the new language. This line of inquiry is guided by previous findings in third language acquisition suggesting that learners might rely on both previous languages, though one may be more—or uniquely—influential at the onset of learning.

The study also examines how core cognitive functions—specifically, working memory, inhibitory control and implicit learning—may affect learning outcomes. Similar to how focusing in a noisy environment requires specific mental skills, third language acquisition may depend on particular cognitive abilities. For instance, participants with strong working memory might have an advantage in recognising patterns or recalling grammatical rules.

By better understanding the processes of third language acquisition, this work could also contribute to broader inquiries in cognitive science regarding how we use existing knowledge to adapt to new tasks.

More refined typology and design in linguistic relativity: The case of motion event encoding

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Study at a glance

graph TD A["Linguistic relativity:
language influences cognition"] --> B["Motion event encoding
(MEE) typology"] B --> C["Path-in-verb languages
(e.g., leave)"] B --> D["Manner-in-verb languages
(e.g., jump)"] A --> E["Mixed prior results: no effect
to verbal and nonverbal effects"] E --> F["Proposed enhancements"] F --> G["Refined typology across twenty
languages (Verkerk, 2014)"] F --> H["Distinguish verbal and nonverbal
subgroups, add filler items"] G --> I["Improved experimental design"] H --> I

Reference

Bernabeu, P., & Tillman, R. (2019). More refined typology and design in linguistic relativity: The case of motion event encoding. Dutch Journal of Applied Linguistics, 8(2), 163-171. http://doi.org/10.1075/dujal.15019.ber

2 | Pablo Bernabeu

Investigating object orientation effects across 18 languages

View-only full text

Study at a glance

General project

Stage 1 Registered Report

Data from our lab

Video demonstration of the procedure followed in our lab

Reference

Multi-region investigation of ‘man’ as default in attitudes

Study at a glance

Read the preregistration

Video demonstration of the procedure followed in our lab

Reference

Starting from the very beginning: Unraveling third language (L3) development with longitudinal data from artificial language learning and EEG

Study at a glance

Read the preregistration

Reference

Materials

References

Podcasts

Contributors and acknowledgements

Lay summary

More refined typology and design in linguistic relativity: The case of motion event encoding

Study at a glance

Reference

2 | Pablo Bernabeu

Investigating object orientation effects across 18 languages

View-only full text

Study at a glance

General project

Stage 1 Registered Report

Data from our lab

Video demonstration of the procedure followed in our lab

Related podcasts

Reference

Multi-region investigation of ‘man’ as default in attitudes

Study at a glance

Read the preregistration

Video demonstration of the procedure followed in our lab

Reference

Starting from the very beginning: Unraveling third language (L3) development with longitudinal data from artificial language learning and EEG

Study at a glance

Read the preregistration

Reference

Materials

References

Podcasts

Contributors and acknowledgements

Lay summary

More refined typology and design in linguistic relativity: The case of motion event encoding

Study at a glance

Reference