scholarly journals A path to the bilingual advantage: Pairwise matching of individuals

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 344-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Czapka ◽  
Christiane Wotschack ◽  
Annegret Klassert ◽  
Julia Festman
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Homogeneous Groups ◽  
Heterogeneous Sample ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Executive Processing

AbstractMatching participants (as suggested by Hope, 2015) may be one promising option for research on a potential bilingual advantage in executive functions (EF). In this study we first compared performances in three EF-tasks of a naturally heterogeneous sample of monolingual (n = 69, age = 9.0 y) and multilingual children (n = 57, age = 9.3 y). Secondly, we meticulously matched participants pairwise to obtain two highly homogeneous groups to rerun our analysis and investigate a potential bilingual advantage. The initally disadvantaged multilinguals (regarding socioeconomic status and German lexicon size) performed worse in updating and response inhibition, but similarly in interference inhibition. This indicates that superior EF compensate for the detrimental effects of the background variables. After matching children pairwise on age, gender, intelligence, socioeconomic status and German lexicon size, performances became similar except for interference inhibition. Here, an advantage for multilinguals in the form of globally reduced reaction times emerged, indicating a bilingual executive processing advantage.

scholarly journals Research on individual differences in executive functions

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi P. Friedman
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Set Shifting ◽  
Interference Control ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Multicomponent Nature

Abstract Executive functions (EFs), such as response inhibition, interference control, and set shifting, are general-purpose control mechanisms that enable individuals to regulate their thoughts and behaviors. Because bilingual individuals use EF-like processes during language control, researchers have become interested in the hypothesis that this use might train EFs, resulting in better performance on non-linguistic EF tasks. Although this bilingual advantage hypothesis seems straightforward to test, it involves a number of important decisions in terms of how to assess bilingualism and EFs. In this article, I focus on the complexity of measuring EFs, drawing on individual differences research (conducted with participants not selected for bilingualism). Specifically, I discuss issues related to (1) the measurement of EFs (particularly the effects of task impurity and unreliability) and (2) the multicomponent nature of EFs. Within each of these topics, I elaborate on consequences for research on bilingual advantages and provide some recommendations.

Theoretically driven experiments may clarify questions about the bilingual advantage

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
KLARA MARTON
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
The Other ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Executive Processing ◽  
Keynote Paper ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The One

In her keynote paper, Valian (2014) provides a comprehensive review of the literature that examines whether bilingual individuals outperform monolingual participants on various executive processing tasks. The author acknowledges that numerous factors contribute to the outcomes, such as variations in participants’ profile, differences in target functions, as well as variants of tasks and procedures. She also says in her review that, on the one hand, researchers use different tasks to measure similar functions; while, on the other hand, each of these tasks target somewhat different aspects of executive processing. The most widely used tasks, such as the Stroop or flanker tasks, measure several components of executive functions simultaneously.

scholarly journals Disturbed Monitoring and Response Inhibition in patients with Gilles De La Tourette Syndrome and Co-Morbid Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 29-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Verena Müller ◽  
Sönke Johannes ◽  
Berdieke Wieringa ◽  
Axel Weber ◽  
Kirsten Müller-Vahl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Tourette Syndrome ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Error Detection ◽  
Neuropsychological Tests ◽  
Cognitive Domain ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Objective:Fronto-striatal dysfunction has been discussed as underlying symptoms of Tourette syndrome (TS) with co-morbid Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This suggests possible impairments of executive functions in this disorder, which were therefore targeted in the present study.Results:A comprehensive series of neuropsychological tests examining attention, memory and executive functions was performed in a group of 14 TS/OCD in co-occurrence with OCD patients and a matched control group.Results:While attentional and memory mechanisms were not altered, TS/OCS patients showed deficits in executive functions predominately in the areas of response inhibition and action monitoring.Conclusions:These findings provide further evidence for a substantial impairment of the frontal-striatal-thalamic-frontal circuit. We propose that the deficits in monitoring, error detection and response inhibition constitute the major impairment of TS/OCD patients in the cognitive domain.

scholarly journals Severe violations of independence in response inhibition tasks

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (12) ◽  
pp. eabf4355
Author(s):  
Patrick G. Bissett ◽  
Henry M. Jones ◽  
Russell A. Poldrack ◽  
Gordon D. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Theoretical Foundation ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Stop Signal ◽  
Experimental Paradigm ◽  
Signal Delay ◽  
Independence Assumption ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Saccadic Responses

The stop-signal paradigm, a primary experimental paradigm for understanding cognitive control and response inhibition, rests upon the theoretical foundation of race models, which assume that a go process races independently against a stop process that occurs after a stop-signal delay (SSD). We show that severe violations of this independence assumption at short SSDs occur systematically across a wide range of conditions, including fast and slow reaction times, auditory and visual stop signals, manual and saccadic responses, and especially in selective stopping. We also reanalyze existing data and show that conclusions can change when short SSDs are excluded. Last, we suggest experimental and analysis techniques to address this violation, and propose adjustments to extant models to accommodate this finding.

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.

Computerized LEXTOMM Battery (Language, EXecutive functions, Theory Of Mind, episodic Memory)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Perrone-Bertolotti ◽  
Lucile Meunier ◽  
Christine Bulteau ◽  
Anna Borne ◽  
Samuel El Bouzaïdi Tiali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Cognition ◽  
Theory Of Mind ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Declarative Memory ◽  
Training Session ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Cognitive Outcomes ◽  
Auditory Modality ◽  
Executive Processes ◽  
Memory Switching

We present a computerize battery constructed to evaluate behavioral performances for language, declarative memory, executive functions and social cognition abilities. This battery was created to evaluate cognitive outcomes in adults who underwent hemispherotomy as a clinical treatment of Rasmussen Encephalitis (RE) in their childhood and have been tested in a group of healthy participants (n= 88). LEXTOMM battery can be used for cognitive assessment of any type of population and allow the collection of behavioral performances in terms of accuracy and reaction times. LEXTOMM battery is composed of six language tasks allowing to assess six different linguistic abilities such as lexical storage, semantics, phonology, syntax, prosody perception and production. Different input modalities are proposed for these tasks (picture, written and auditory modality). A specific task allowing the assessment of the language generation and declarative memory interaction is also proposed. The battery also included a visual control categorization task is proposed in order to assess decision-making baseline. Moreover, LEXTOMM also includes four tasks allowing the assessment of the executive functions. More specifically we included tasks allowing the evaluation of four executive processes: updating in working memory, switching/flexibility, sustained attention and inhibition. Finally, the battery includes a theory of mind abilities task. All tasks were developed using the E-Prime 3.0 software (E-Prime Psychology Software Tools Inc., Pittsburgh, USA), running on a PC. Before each task, a training session is included, with several stimuli that differ from those presented during the experiment. This training allows participants to understand the instructions and get familiarized with each task. Hereafter, we describe the procedures and tasks included in LEXTOMM, in the following order: low-level visual categorization, language, language in interaction with declarative memory, executive functions and social cognition/theory of mind.

Working memory demand of a task modulates bilingual advantage in executive functions

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lu Jiao ◽  
Cong Liu ◽  
Ruiming Wang ◽  
Baoguo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Interference Suppression ◽  
Memory Processing ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Processing Demand ◽  
Memory Experiment ◽  
Storage Demand

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of task demand in working memory on bilingual cognitive advantage (interference suppression and response inhibition) in young bilinguals. Methodology: Experiment 1 was performed with the flanker, Go/No-go, and modified flanker tasks, in which the first two tasks were involved in lower storage demand of working memory and the last task was involved in higher storage demand of working memory. Experiment 2 was performed with the Conditional-Go/No-go task, with a higher processing demand of working memory. Data and analysis: Reaction time and accuracy data were analyzed using a repeated measures analysis of variance. Findings/Conclusions: In Experiment 1, results showed that compared to monolinguals, the bilingual advantage in interference suppression occurred in the task with high storage demand (i.e., modified flanker task) and not in the low demand task (i.e., flanker task); however, this advantage effect was not observed in response inhibition. In Experiment 2, with the increasing working memory processing demand of tasks, the bilingual advantage in response inhibition was observed. Originality: The current study firstly examined the effect of task working memory demand on the bilingual advantage and provided some restrictive conditions for the advantage. Significance/Implications: Our results provide new evidence to support the effect of bilingual cognitive advantage.

scholarly journals A Simple and Effective Way to Study Executive Functions by Using 360° Videos

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Borgnis ◽  
Francesca Baglio ◽  
Elisa Pedroli ◽  
Federica Rossetto ◽  
Giuseppe Riva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Executive Dysfunction ◽  
Physiological Data ◽  
Planning Problem ◽  
Eye Tracker ◽  
Verbal Responses ◽  
Executive Dysfunctions

Executive dysfunctions constitute a significant public health problem due to their high impact on everyday life and personal independence. Therefore, the identification of early strategies to assess and rehabilitate these impairments appears to be a priority. The ecological limitations of traditional neuropsychological tests and the numerous difficulties in administering tests in real-life scenarios have led to the increasing use of virtual reality (VR) and 360° environment-based tools for assessing executive functions (EFs) in real life. This perspective aims at proposing the development and implementation of Executive-functions Innovative Tool 360° (EXIT 360°), an innovative, enjoyable, and ecologically valid tool for a multidimensional and multicomponent evaluation of executive dysfunctions. EXIT 360° allows a complete and integrated executive functioning assessment through an original task for EFs delivered via a mobile-powered VR headset combined with eye tracker (ET) and electroencephalograms (EEG). Our tool is born as a 360°-based instrument, easily accessible and clinically usable, that will radically transform clinicians’ and patient’s assessment experience. In EXIT 360°, patients are engaged in a “game for health,” where they must perform everyday subtasks in 360° daily life environments. In this way, the clinicians can obtain quickly more ecologically valid information about several aspects of EFs (e.g., planning, problem-solving). Moreover, the multimodal approach allows completing the assessment of EFs by integrating verbal responses, reaction times, and physiological data (eye movements and brain activation). Overall, EXIT 360° will allow obtaining simultaneously and in real time more information about executive dysfunction and its impact in real life, allowing clinicians to tailor the rehabilitation to the subject’s needs.

scholarly journals Clear theories are needed to interpret differences: Perspectives on the bilingual advantage debate

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-46
Author(s):  
Angela de Bruin ◽  
Anthony Steven Dick ◽  
Manuel Carreiras
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functions ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Cognitive Effects ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
Brain Changes ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Meta Analyses

Abstract The heated debate regarding bilingual cognitive advantages remains ongoing. While there are many studies supporting positive cognitive effects of bilingualism, recent meta-analyses have concluded that there is no consistent evidence for a ’bilingual advantage’. In this paper we focus on several theoretical concerns. First, we discuss changes in theoretical frameworks, which have led to the development of insufficiently clear theories and hypotheses that are difficult to falsify. Next, we discuss the development of looking at bilingual experiences and the need to better understand language control. Last, we argue that the move from behavioural studies to a focus on brain plasticity is not going to solve the debate on cognitive effects, especially not when brain changes are interpreted in the absence of behavioural differences. Clearer theories on both behavioural and neural effects of bilingualism are needed. However, to achieve this, a solid understanding of both bilingualism and executive functions is needed first.

scholarly journals Selective Auditory Attention Associated With Language Skills but Not With Executive Functions in Swedish Preschoolers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Signe Tonér ◽  
Petter Kallioinen ◽  
Francisco Lacerda
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Executive Functions ◽  
Educational Outcomes ◽  
Language Skills ◽  
Event Related Potential ◽  
Auditory Attention ◽  
Socioeconomic Differences ◽  
Preschool Attendance ◽  
Female Advantage ◽  
Future Work

Associations between language and executive functions (EFs) are well-established but previous work has often focused more on EFs than on language. To further clarify the language–EF relationship, we assessed several aspects of language and EFs in 431 Swedish children aged 4–6, including selective auditory attention which was measured in an event-related potential paradigm. We also investigated potential associations to age, socioeconomic status (SES), bi-/multilingualism, sex and aspects of preschool attendance and quality. Language and EFs correlated weakly to moderately, indicating that relying on measures of vocabulary alone may overestimate the strength of the language–EF relationship. Contrary to predictions, we found no correlations between selective attention and EFs. There were however correlations between morphosyntactic accuracy and selective auditory attention which is in line with previous work and suggests a specific link between morphosyntax and the ability to suppress irrelevant stimuli. In Sweden, socioeconomic differences are rather small and preschool is universally available, but nevertheless, aspects of parental SES predicted children’s performance on all measures. Bi-/multilingual children performed lower on language also when controlling for SES, highlighting the need for interventions to reduce inequalities in educational outcomes already in preschool. A female advantage was found for both language and EFs, whereas preschool attendance and quality were not significantly related to outcome measures. Future work should include longitudinal studies of language and EF development, include children from diverse SES backgrounds and contribute toward a theoretical framework that further clarifies the language–EF relationship.

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