Objective: To determine the cerebral activation patterns associated with processing of English semantic judgment task by fMRI in native Chinese bilinguists.Methods: 12 native Chinese bilinguists were divided into two groups with 6 in each group

English-specialized and non-English-specialized group

and performed English words semantic judgment task

whose fMRI images were collected.Results: All subjects demonstrated significant activation of associated cerebral regions.Besides classical regions involved in language processing

such as Wernicke and Broca areas

there were other activated cerebral regions

including cerebellum

limbic system and basal ganglial nucleus

etc.The analysis of ROI implied that subjects in the specialized group were more dependent on the right hemisphere.Conclusions: Left hemisphere dominates in language cognition

although which is also related to the right hemisphere to various degrees.Two hemispheres work by ways of both dissociation and coordination.It is possible that working strategy of the right hemisphere is related to proficiency of the second language.A variety of distinctions are shared by each subject for language cognitive patterns.