Let's say that a new study is conducted with the hopes of supporting the divergence view of language localization in bilinguals. The researchers measure the results of the subjects listening to L1 backwards speech and L2 backwards speech using PET. Which of the following results would provide the strongest support of their view?

1) LPLA: L1 > L2

2) LPLA: L1 ≠ L2

3) HPLA: L1 > L2

4) HPLA: L1 ≠ L2

2) LPLA: L1 ≠ˆ L2. The best result to support the divergence view of language localization in bilinguals is option (2) LPLA: L1 ≠¹ L2, which indicates different patterns of brain activation for L1 and L2.

Explanation:

The question is exploring the concept of language localization in bilinguals and how different areas of the brain may be involved in the processing of a first language (L1) and a second language (L2). You're specifically asking which PET scan results would provide the strongest support for the divergence view, which is the idea that different parts of the brain are active when processing different languages in bilingual individuals. The options given involve the left posterior language area (LPLA) and high posterior language area (HPLA) activation levels with backward speech (a method to control for meaning and focus on language processing) in both L1 and L2.

Result option (2) LPLA: L1 ≠¹ L2 would provide the strongest evidence for the divergence view. This result would indicate that the LPLA activation is different when processing L1 backward speech compared to L2 backward speech. It implies that there are distinct brain localization patterns for each language in bilinguals, which is what the divergence view suggests.