Predictive Processing in Bilingual Brains: Understanding Language with EEG

Hi everyone! My name is Jack Litman, and I’m a high school student from Canada passionate about linguistics, neuroscience, and how the brain helps us make sense of language. For my OpenBCI Discovery Program project, I’m investigating a fascinating question: How does the brain process language differently in your first language (L1) compared to your second language (L2)? To explore this, I’m using EEG (electroencephalography) technology to measure a specific brain response called the N400, a signal your brain produces when it encounters a word that doesn’t fit in a sentence. For example:

• “He took a bite of a sandwich” → normal

• “He took a bite of a building” → your brain says, “Wait, that doesn’t make sense!”

We know the N400 happens reliably in people’s first language, but how strong is this response when you’re reading or hearing a second language? And does it change based on your fluency level? That’s what we’re aiming to find out.

1. What are you making?

Our project, Predictive Processing in Bilingual Brains, is an EEG study looking at how language comprehension differs between L1 and L2 by tracking the N400 brain response. We’ll be testing participants with varying fluency levels in their second language to see how their brains react to incongruent words in both languages. It builds on classic neuroscience research but adds a new twist by exploring bilingualism, something that affects millions of people worldwide.

2. How are OpenBCI tools being applied?

OpenBCI’s technology is central to making this project possible. We’ll be using the All-in-One EEG Electrode Cap Bundle, including the Cyton and Daisy Biosensing Board, to record high-quality brain activity from participants.Since detecting the N400 requires precise electrode placement over areas like the central-posterior scalp, OpenBCI’s system is ideal for collecting reliable data outside a traditional lab.

3. Why is this important?

Language learning is a huge part of life for so many people, but we still have a lot to learn about how the brain handles a second language. This project can help answer important questions, such as:

• How does your brain predict meaning in L2 compared to L1?

• Does fluency in second language change how your brain processes language surprises?

• Can open-source EEG tools bring this kind of research out of expensive university labs and into schools, classrooms, or community projects?

By combining neuroscience, language science, and OpenBCI technology, we hope to spark more curiosity and lower the barrier to exploring how the brain makes meaning from words.

4. Who is involved in this project?

While I’m leading the project, I’m lucky to have an awesome team helping along the way:

• Alex Hartman Adams, Linguistics & English Language Consultant
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• Dr. Zhenqiu Lin, Senior Healthcare Research Scientist & Data Analytics Expert
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• Bryan Litman, Project Manager
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• Master’s Student in Biostatistics, supporting data analysis

And of course, huge thanks to OpenBCI, whose tools make this project possible and accessible for student researchers like me.

5. Want to learn more about this project?

We’ll be sharing updates, datasets, and our final research paper on the Open Science Framework later this year. I’ll also be posting progress updates here on the OpenBCI Community page. If you want to chat about the project, collaborate, or ask questions, feel free to reach out:

– [email protected]

Thanks for reading! I am excited to be part of this amazing community and show how open-source brain tech can help us better understand language and learning.