TY - JOUR A1 - Rossi, Sonja A1 - Telkemeyer, Silke A1 - Wartenburger, Isabell A1 - Obrig, Hellmuth T1 - Shedding light on words and sentences near-infrared spectroscopy in language research JF - Brain & language : a journal of the neurobiology of language N2 - Investigating the neuronal network underlying language processing may contribute to a better understanding of how the brain masters this complex cognitive function with surprising ease and how language is acquired at a fast pace in infancy. Modern neuroimaging methods permit to visualize the evolvement and the function of the language network. The present paper focuses on a specific methodology, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), providing an overview over studies on auditory language processing and acquisition. The methodology detects oxygenation changes elicited by functional activation of the cerebral cortex. The main advantages for research on auditory language processing and its development during infancy are an undemanding application, the lack of instrumental noise, and its potential to simultaneously register electrophysiological responses. Also it constitutes an innovative approach for studying developmental issues in infants and children. The review will focus on studies on word and sentence processing including research in infants and adults. KW - Language KW - Language acquisition KW - Word processing KW - Sentence processing KW - Lateralization KW - Optical imaging (OI) KW - Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) KW - Electroencephalography (EEG) Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2011.03.008 SN - 0093-934X VL - 121 IS - 2 SP - 152 EP - 163 PB - Elsevier CY - San Diego ER -