Chapter 12. Electroencephalography

García, Adolfo M.; Koshkin, Roman; Paiva, Tiago de Oliveira

Part of

Research Methods in Cognitive Translation and Interpreting Studies
Edited by Ana María Rojo López and Ricardo Muñoz Martín
[Research Methods in Applied Linguistics 10] 2025
► pp. 280–305

Chapter 12
Electroencephalography

Adolfo M. García | Universidad de San Andrés | Global Brain Health Institute | Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Roman Koshkin | Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

Tiago de Oliveira Paiva | University of Porto

Since the 2000s, neuroscientific approaches have gained momentum in cognitive translation and interpreting studies (CTIS). Temporally precise insights on interlingual reformulation have been gained through electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive method sensitive to underlying electrical patterns. Here we introduce this method with a focus on CTIS research. First, we survey core notions and measures, including event-related potentials, oscillatory measures, and functional connectivity patterns. Then, we summarize key EEG findings on language, bilingualism, and interlingual reformulation. Next, we provide conceptual, methodological, technical, practical, and ethical considerations for newcomers to the field. Finally, we identify relevant limitations and opportunities for breakthroughs. Overall, we aim to promote more and better EEG research within CTIS.

Article outline

1.The method and key notions
- 1.1The electrophysiology of language, bilingualism, and interlingual reformulation
- 1.2Ethical issues in electroencephalography
2.Conceptual aspects
- 2.1The variables in electroencephalography research
- 2.2Data measurement in electroencephalography
3.Implementation
- 3.1Global considerations
- 3.2Technical considerations
- 3.3Considerations for data preprocessing and processing in electroencephalography
4.Closing remarks
- 4.1Limitations of electroencephalography in CTIS
- 4.2Emerging challenges in electroencephalography research within CTIS
Further readings on electroencephalography
References

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References (104)

Further readings on electroencephalography

Christoffels, I. K., Ganushchak, L., & Koester, D. (2013). Language conflict in translation: An ERP study of translation production. Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 25(5), 646–664.

Dottori, M., Hesse, E., Santilli, M., Vilas, M. G., Martorell Caro, M., Fraiman, D., Sedeño, L., Ibáñez, A., & García, A. M. (2020). Task-specific signatures in the expert brain: Differential correlates of translation and reading in professional interpreters. NeuroImage, 209, 116519.

García, A. M. (2019). The neurocognition of translation and interpreting. John Benjamins. [URL].

Grabner, R. H., Brunner, C., Leeb, R., Neuper, C., & Pfurtscheller, G. (2007). Event-related EEG theta and alpha band oscillatory responses during language translation. Brain Research Bulletin, 72(1), 57–65.

Pérez, G., Hesse, E., Dottori, M., Birba, A., Amoruso, L., Martorell Caro, M., Ibáñez, A., & García, A. M. (2022). The bilingual lexicon, back and forth: Electrophysiological signatures of translation asymmetry. Neuroscience, 481, 134–143.

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Chapter 12Electroencephalography

Chapter 12
Electroencephalography