How do bilingual (or multilingual) persons keep different languages apart and switch between them as needs arise? Crinion et al. have used an ingenious method to dissociate brain regions sensitive to word meaning from those sensitive to the combination of meaning and language. This work should stimulate further research examining the role of subcortical areas in language processing and in context-appropriate language production.
Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and SingHealth Research Facilities, 7th Hospital Drive, #01-11, Singapore 169611, Singapore. mchee@pacific.net.sg
