The Language and Cognition Laboratory (LCL) is established to be one of the best equipped cognitive/neurocognitive laboratories of language studies in the region, certainly the best in Hong Kong. It has all the research tools, basic as well as the advanced, and state-of-art research facilities (e.g., SR Research EyeLink 1000 system for recording eye-movement data and an EGI 128 Channel Geodesic System 300 for recording brainwave data) for carrying out cognitive/neurocognitive research in various aspects of language-related human cognitive capabilities (i.e., language acquisition, adult language learning, neurolinguistics, language comprehension and language production, etc.). The lab is committed to high quality research and to demonstrate deep interdisciplinary sophistication by equipping the LT intellectual force to collect both natural and controlled data of basic research to uptake lines of multi-disciplinary research in language studies that comprise a critical strategy to ensure the sustainability of the existing areas of strengths of LT. The lab aims to produce research results that provide essential knowledge and discoveries for language researchers to understand the universality and particularity of cognitive/neurocognitive mechanisms of language processing in Chinese, that distinguish competing language models, spanning through a wide spectrum of linguistic domains in Chinese (phonology, morphology, semantic, syntax, anaphora and pragmatic), and that implement Chinese learning environment (CSL) that optimally facilitate language learning through effective intervention techniques that lead to successful reading outcomes.
To enhance its functional efficiency, the LCL has five sectors: 1). Neuroimaging Study Panel, hosting the Geodesic EGI System 300; 2). Eye Movement Laboratory, hosting the SR Research EyeLink 1000 system; 3). Behavior Laboratory; 4).Work Station; 5). Multi-functional Panel
The LCL has EGI's Geodesic EEG System (GES) 300 as the platform for the studies of language and cognition/neurocognition. The event-related potentials (ERP) paradigm has been broadly applied to disentangle the nature of the relationship between language and cognitive/neurocognitive functions in various human language phenomena. The EEG system consists of: the Net Station Control Mac to record the brainwave, the Eprime monitor to control stimulus (such as audio or visual stimulus, like English or Chinese words, sentences, or passages), the stimulus presentation monitor to present stimuli, a Net Amps 300 Amplifier to connecte Net Station Control Mac with the Eprime control monitor & the stimulus presentation monitor, and the articulated arm to connecte the HydroCel Geodesic Sensor Net and Amplifier.
Eye tracking study has been widely used in research on the visual system, psychology, cognitive science and psycholinguistics. Boasting a precise recording of eye movement and eye position, the methodology offers new insights to the understanding of the underlying cognitive mechanisms involved in the processing of natural human language. The lab is equipped with the state-of-art SR. Research EyeLink 1000 system. Its sophisticated technology allows scientific reading study in a very natural context without interfering with reading pace and permits continuous, noninvasive online data collection. Moreover, the eye tracker provides high-precision, high-speed, low-variability measurements to study the time course of language processing. It also makes it possible to conduct cross-modal studies combining both visual and audio input, or both visual input and verbal output. The lab hosts all necessary equipment and accessories for the SR. EyeLink 1000 system for successful conduction of eye-movement tests.
Work Station provides a working platform, with two PC desktops and one MAC system, for research staffs/students of the LCL to develop project, set up experiments for cognitive/neurocognitive studies, and analyzes data.
Language and Cognition Laboratory (LCL) is established with a primary goal of supporting the teaching and research activities in LT of the City University of Hong Kong. LT faculty, research staffs/students can loan license keys and/or software manuals of “Experiment Builder” & “E-prime Professional Software 2.0” provided by the LCL, subjected to the approval of LCL Coordinator.
Enquiry: LTenquiry@cityu.edu.hk
Page last updated: 13 December 2021
