The lecture by Dr Kate Stone from the University of Hull will be held at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University (nám. Jana Palacha 1/2, Prague 1, room no. P026) on 6 March 2026 at 10:45–12:00.

Abstract

Quantifying differences in the onsets of experimental effects has provided valuable insights into language cognition in time series data from the visual world paradigm. Similar questions about effect onsets can be asked about ERPs to complement the more common questions about differences in ERP component magnitudes. For example, Meulman et al. use generalised additive mixed models (GAMMs) to show that P600s to grammatical violations in non-native (L2) speakers of German are slower than those of native (L1) speakers, but that among L2 speakers, proficiency did not appear to be predictive of P600 latency. Such findings inform theory because they could suggest that reading-time slow-downs commonly observed in L2 vs. L1 speakers may reflect slower reanalysis or integration – processes associated with the P600 – but that slow-downs associated with lower proficiency may have a different cognitive source.

Given the utility of such findings, we are expanding Veríssimo and Lago’s method to model ERP latencies as well as visual world data. In this talk, Dr Kate Stone will discuss preliminary findings showing that the method successfully replicates Meulman et al.’s findings with some improved performance in modelling individual participants. As a “work in progress” talk, Dr Stone will discuss some obstacles the researchers have encountered in developing the method and would welcome suggestions, including about datasets where quantifying latency would be of theoretical interest.