scholarly journals Executive control mechanisms in bilingualism: Beyond speed of processing

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 613-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
KLARA MARTON ◽  
MIRA GORAL ◽  
LUCA CAMPANELLI ◽  
JUNGMEE YOON ◽  
LORAINE K. OBLER
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Implicit Learning ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Task Complexity ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Baseline Response

The question of interest in this study was whether bilingual individuals show superior executive control compared to monolingual participants. Findings are mixed, with studies showing advantage, disadvantage, or no difference between bilingual and monolingual speakers. In this study, we used different experimental conditions to examine implicit learning, resistance to interference, monitoring, and switching, independently. In addition, we matched our monolingual and bilingual participants on baseline response time. Bilingual participants demonstrated faster implicit learning, greater resistance to interference, more efficient switching compared to monolingual participants. The groups did not differ in monitoring. In conclusion, depending on task complexity and on the target executive control component, there are different patterns of bilingual advantage, beyond the global faster processing speed documented in previous studies. Bilingual young adults showed more efficient adjustments of the cognitive system in response to changes in task demands.

Bilingual advantage in executive control when task demands are considered

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 277-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
LI QU ◽  
JOEL JIA WEI LOW ◽  
TING ZHANG ◽  
HONG LI ◽  
PHILIP DAVID ZELAZO
Keyword(s):  
Executive Control ◽  
Switching Costs ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Mixing Costs ◽  
Switching Task

To examine how task demands influence bilingual advantage in executive control over monolinguals, we tested 32 Chinese monolinguals and 32 Chinese–English bilinguals with four versions of a color-shape switching task. During switching trials, the task required participants to suppress one set of conflicting (or non-conflicting) responses and simultaneously to activate another set of conflicting (or non-conflicting) responses. The results showed that compared to monolinguals, (i) when suppressing conflicting responses or (ii) activating non-conflicting responses, bilinguals had significantly smaller switching costs though similar mixing costs; (iii) when suppressing one set of conflicting responses and simultaneously activating another set of conflicting responses, bilinguals had significantly smaller switching costs though larger mixing costs; and (iv) when suppressing one set of non-conflicting responses and simultaneously activating another set of non-conflicting responses, bilinguals had similar switching costs and mixing costs. These findings indicate that task demands affect bilingual advantage in executive control.

scholarly journals Brain Structure, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Executive Control Changes after a 9-Week Exercise Intervention in Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 292
Author(s):  
Lina Zhu ◽  
Qian Yu ◽  
Fabian Herold ◽  
Boris Cheval ◽  
Xiaoxiao Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Brain Structure ◽  
Grey Matter ◽  
Exercise Intervention ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Younger Adults

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is assumed to exert beneficial effects on brain structure and executive control (EC) performance. However, empirical evidence of exercise-induced cognitive enhancement is not conclusive, and the role of CRF in younger adults is not fully understood. Here, we conducted a study in which healthy young adults took part in a moderate aerobic exercise intervention program for 9 weeks (exercise group; n = 48), or control condition of non-aerobic exercise intervention (waitlist control group; n = 72). Before and after the intervention period maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) as an indicator of CRF, the Flanker task as a measure of EC performance and grey matter volume (GMV), as well as cortical thickness via structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), were assessed. Compared to the control group, the CRF (heart rate, p < 0.001; VO2max, p < 0.001) and EC performance (congruent and incongruent reaction time, p = 0.011, p < 0.001) of the exercise group were significantly improved after the 9-week aerobic exercise intervention. Furthermore, GMV changes in the left medial frontal gyrus increased in the exercise group, whereas they were significantly reduced in the control group. Likewise, analysis of cortical morphology revealed that the left lateral occipital cortex (LOC.L) and the left precuneus (PCUN.L) thickness were considerably increased in the exercise group, which was not observed in the control group. The exploration analysis confirmed that CRF improvements are linked to EC improvement and frontal grey matter changes. In summary, our results support the idea that regular endurance exercises are an important determinant for brain health and cognitive performance even in a cohort of younger adults.

The Effect of Parameters of Laser Processing on the Morphology of Glaze Cladding

2012 ◽  
Vol 586 ◽  
pp. 265-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Wei Fan ◽  
Zhi Qiang Jiao ◽  
Xiao Peng Li ◽  
Hui Jun Zhao ◽  
Zhen Guo Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Output Power ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Laser Processing ◽  
Ceramic Materials ◽  
Processing Parameters ◽  
Laser Technique ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Melted Zone

Laser processing ceramic materials is a new application of laser technique. This paper presents the study of laser processing parameters of glaze cladding. It found out that the parameters of laser processing affected the morphology of glaze cladding significantly. Within the experimental conditions, rise of output power or drop of processing speed can increase the depth of melted zone and the width of glaze cladding, vice versa.

Effect of Bilingualism on Multitasking: A Pilot Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 94-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Hsieh
Keyword(s):  
Executive Control ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Language Experience ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Bilingual Speakers ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Linguistic Representations ◽  
A Cell ◽  
The Difference

Bilingual speakers rely on attentional and executive control to continuously inhibit or activate linguistic representations of competing languages, which leads to an increased efficiency known as “bilingual advantage”. Both monolingual and bilingual speakers were asked to perform multiple tasks of talking on a cell phone while simultaneously attending to simulated driving events. This study examined the effect of bilingualism on participants' performance during a dual-task experiment based on 20 monolingual and 13 bilingual healthy adults. The within-subject and between-subject comparisons were conducted on reaction times of a visual event detection task for (a) only driving and (b) driving while simultaneously engaged in a phone conversation. Results of this study showed that bilingual speakers performed significantly faster than monolingual speakers during the multitasking condition, but not during the driving only condition. Further, bilingual speakers consistently showed a bilingual advantage in reaction times during the multitasking condition, despite varying degrees on a bilingual dominance scale. Overall, experiences in more than one language yield bilingual advantage in better performance than monolingual speakers during a multitasking condition, but not during a single task condition. Regardless of the difference in bilingual proficiency level, such language experience reveals a positive impact on bilingual speakers for multitasking.

scholarly journals Effects of All-Night Driving on Selective Attention in Professional Truck Drivers: A Preliminary Functional Magnetic Resonance Study

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5409
Author(s):  
Stefan P. Gazdzinski ◽  
Marek Binder ◽  
Alicja Bortkiewicz ◽  
Paulina Baran ◽  
Łukasz Dziuda
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Selective Attention ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Task Demands ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
The Neural Network ◽  
Spatially Extended

Fatigue affects multiple aspects of cognitive performance among drivers. However, even after fatigue builds up, some are still able to maintain the level of behavioral performance. To evaluate these adaptations on the neural network level, we utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Seventeen male professional drivers underwent two fMRI sessions, once while rested and once in a fatigued condition after 10-h of overnight driving. The cognitive task used in the study involved the detection of visual feature conjunctions, namely the shape and the color. There were no significant differences in the task performance between the conditions except for longer reaction times in the fatigued condition. However, we observed substantial differences in the activation patterns during the cognitive task involving selective attention between the conditions. On the global level, we observed a general decrease in activation strength in the fatigued condition, which appeared to be more pronounced in the left hemisphere. On the local level, we observed a (spatially) extended activation of the medial prefrontal regions in the fatigued condition, which reflected increased cognitive control mechanisms compensating for the diminished efficiency of mechanisms involved in meeting task demands.

scholarly journals Brain Training Game Boosts Executive Functions, Working Memory and Processing Speed in the Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. e55518 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui Nouchi ◽  
Yasuyuki Taki ◽  
Hikaru Takeuchi ◽  
Hiroshi Hashizume ◽  
Takayuki Nozawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Processing Speed ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Brain Training ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Respiratory and Circulatory Responses to Hypoxia in the Lobster Homarus Americanus

1975 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-655 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. R. MCMAHON ◽  
J. L. WILKENS
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Oxygen Uptake ◽  
Homarus Americanus ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Blood Oxygen ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Oxygen Levels ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Oxygen Tensions

Contrary to previous reports, oxygen consumption is maintained over a wide range of external oxygen tensions in the lobster Homarus americanus. In animals acclimated to the experimental conditions this response is mediated by increased branchial pumping, increased effectiveness of oxygen uptake by the gills and an increased contribution by the respiratory pigment to the oxygen delivered to the tissues. Circulatory blood oxygen levels are generally high in lobsters resting in well-aerated water. Mechanisms for detection of hypoxia and possible control mechanisms are discussed.

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