Effects of cognitive load and years of experience on phase-amplitude coupling in simultaneous interpretation

Abstract

Simultaneous interpretation is a highly cognitively demanding task that requires constant attention switching between languages. Interest continues to grow in the contribution of phase-amplitude coupling (PAC), which involves the cooperative interaction of multiple oscillations and working memory. In this study, we established subjective definitions for cognitive load levels based on the subjective word familiarity of simultaneous interpretation, categorizing them as low, medium, or high. We then compared the changes in the PAC patterns between experienced interpreters and beginners. Experienced interpreters exhibited an increase in PAC, including theta-gamma PAC, which is linked to working memory, as well as theta-beta PAC, alpha-beta PAC and alpha-gamma PAC, with rising cognitive load levels in simultaneous interpreting. This suggests that experienced simultaneous interpreters choose a more adaptive neural processing strategy in response to the cognitive demands of interpretation language. In contrast, beginner interpreters do not show such changes in PACs, indicating either an underdeveloped or a different neurological approach to the cognitive load levels of interpretation language. The difference in PAC responses between the two groups reflects varying cognitive and interpretive strategies in the brain, where experienced interpreters might utilize more advanced neural mechanisms to manage higher levels of difficulty in simultaneous interpretation.