Analyzing selective attention processing on simultaneous interpreters using EEG phase synchronization extracted by the 40Hz-auditory steady-state response

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to verify the ability of an experienced simultaneous interpreter to selectively handle multilingual processing using the EEG and 40Hz-ASSR phase-locked response. In our experimental conditions, two following conditions and subjects groups were set: Japanese-English interpreting condition and Japanese shadowing condition, and S rank (15 years or more SI experience, n = 7) and C-rank (less than one-year experience, n = 15). As the result, the ITC of interpreting conditions on the S-rank was significantly increased compared to the shadowing condition (ITC: p<0.001), while there was no difference between the conditions on the C-rank. These results indicated that the S-rank showed an increased selective attention response during interpretation. In this study, we proposed that 40Hz-ASSR will be an effective indicator of selective attention during simultaneous interpretation.