The sensitivity to context modulates executive control: Evidence from Malayalam–English bilinguals

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Riya Rafeekh ◽  
Ramesh Kumar Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Control ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Dynamic Adaptation ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Bilingual Speakers ◽  
Conflict Effect ◽  
Control Hypothesis ◽  
Interaction Phase

Abstract In two experiments, we examined the hypothesis that bilingual speakers modulate their cognitive control settings dynamically in the presence of different interlocutors, and this can be captured through performance on a non-linguistic attention task. We introduced Malayalam–English bilinguals to interlocutors with varying L2 dominance through a pre-experiment familiarisation and interaction phase. Later, participants did the Flanker task while the interlocutors appeared before each trial. While in experiment one participants did the Flanker task with equal distribution of trials, in experiment two we manipulated the monitoring demands by changing the frequency of trials. Results showed that high-L2 proficient bilinguals had lower conflict effect on the Flanker task in the presence of balanced interlocutors in both the experiments. The results provide strong evidence of dynamic adaptation of control settings in bilinguals with regard to different passively present interlocutors. The results further extend the predictions of the adaptive control hypothesis with novel manipulation.

The P3 Parietal-To-Frontal Shift Relates to Age-Related Slowing in a Selective Attention Task

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 49-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva-Maria Reuter ◽  
Claudia Voelcker-Rehage ◽  
Solveig Vieluf ◽  
Franca Parianen Lesemann ◽  
Ben Godde
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Selective Attention ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Event Related Potentials ◽  
Compensatory Mechanism ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
Equal Distribution ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Related Potentials

Abstract. Older adults recruit relatively more frontal as compared to parietal resources in a variety of cognitive and perceptual tasks. It is not yet clear whether this parietal-to-frontal shift is a compensatory mechanism, or simply reflects a reduction in processing efficiency. In this study we aimed to investigate how the parietal-to-frontal shift with aging relates to selective attention. Fourteen young and 26 older healthy adults performed a color Flanker task under three conditions (incongruent, congruent, neutral) and event-related potentials (ERPs) were measured. The P3 was analyzed for the electrode positions Pz, Cz, and Fz as an indicator of the parietal-to-frontal shift. Further, behavioral performance and other ERP components (P1 and N1 at electrodes O1 and O2; N2 at electrodes Fz and Cz) were investigated. First young and older adults were compared. Older adults had longer response times, reduced accuracy, longer P3 latencies, and a more frontal distribution of P3 than young adults. These results confirm the parietal-to-frontal shift in the P3 with age for the selective attention task. Second, based on the differences between frontal and parietal P3 activity the group of older adults was subdivided into those showing a rather equal distribution of the P3 and older participants showing a strong frontal focus of the P3. Older adults with a more frontally distributed P3 had longer response times than participants with a more equally distributed P3. These results suggest that the frontally distributed P3 observed in older adults has no compensatory function in selective attention but rather indicates less efficient processing and slowing with age.

EXPRESS: Differential impacts of natural L2 immersion and intensive classroom L2 training on cognitive control

2021 ◽  
pp. 174702182110408
Author(s):  
Xie Zhilong ◽  
Katarina Antolovic
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Control ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Language Immersion ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Card Sorting ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Control Hypothesis

The relationship between bilingualism and cognitive control has been controversial. We believe that the discrepant findings are likely driven by the complexities of the bilingual experience, which is consistent with the Adaptive Control Hypothesis. The current study investigates whether the natural language immersion experience and the classroom intensive language training experience have differential impacts on cognitive control. Among unbalanced Chinese-English bilingual students, a natural L2 (second language) immersion group, an L2 public speaking training group, and a control bilingual group without immersion or training experience were compared on their cognitive control abilities, with the participants’ demographic factors strictly controlled. The results showed that the L2 immersion group and the L2 speaking group had faster speed than the control group in the Flanker task, whereas the L2 immersion group had fewer errors than the other two groups in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). These results generally provide evidence in favor of the Adaptive Control Hypothesis, specifying that natural L2 immersion and L2 public speaking training experiences are distinctively related to cognitive control. The current study is the first of its kind to link specific bilingual experiences (natural L2 immersion vs. intensive L2 public speaking) with different components of cognitive control.

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 Positive emotion enhances conflict processing in preschoolers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Berger ◽  
Charlotte Grosse Wiesmann
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Error Rates ◽  
Conflict Processing ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Conflict Effect ◽  
Attentional System ◽  
Neutral Conditions ◽  
Goal Directed Behavior ◽  
Action Tendencies

The rapid detection and resolution of conflict between opposing action tendencies is crucial for our ability to engage in goal-directed behavior. Research in adults suggests that emotions might serve as a ‘relevance detector’ that alarms attentional and sensory systems, thereby leading to more efficient conflict processing. In contrast, previous research in children has almost exclusively stressed the impeding influence of emotion on the attentional system, as suggested by the protracted development of performance in ‘hot’ executive function tasks. How does emotion modulate conflict processing in development? We addressed this question applying a modified version of a color flanker task that either involved or did not involve emotional stimuli in preschool children (N = 43, with preregistered Bayesian sequential design, aged 2.8 – 7.0 years). Our results show a robust conflict effect with higher error rates in incongruent compared to congruent trials. Crucially, conflict resolution was faster in emotional compared to neutral conditions. Furthermore, while efficient conflict processing increases with age, we find evidence against an age-related change in the influence of emotion on conflict processing. Taken together, these findings provide first indication that emotion can trigger efficient control processes already from early on in life. In contrast to previous findings and theories in developmental psychology, this indicates that, depending on the role that emotion has in conflict processing, emotion may show a facilitative or impeding effect.

scholarly journals Macular Carotenoids Are Associated with Neural Efficiency in Children

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 102-102
Author(s):  
Caitlyn Edwards ◽  
Corinne Cannavale ◽  
Samantha Iwinski ◽  
Isabel R Flemming ◽  
Ruyu Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Selective Attention ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Attentional Resource ◽  
Behavioral Performance ◽  
Attention Task ◽  
Carotenoid Accumulation ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Neural Efficiency ◽  
Attentional Inhibition

Abstract Objectives Macular pigmentation has been previously related to benefits for behavioral and neuroelectric aspects of selective attention across the lifespan. The relationship between accumulation of carotenoids beyond the central nervous system and selective attention is less understood, particularly amongst children. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the differential impacts of retinal and skin carotenoid accumulation and behavioral and neuroelectric indices of selective attention. Methods Children between 7–12 years (N = 60) participated in the study. Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) was assessed using heterochromatic flicker photometry and skin carotenoids were assessed using reflection spectroscopy at the fingertip using the Veggie meter. Body Mass Index adjusted for age and sex (BMI%) and general intelligence as assessed using the Woodcock Johnson IV test were used as covariates. Behavioral performance (accuracy and reaction time) and neuroelectric indices (event-related brain potentials [ERPs]) of attentional inhibition were assessed during a modified Eriksen Flanker task. Specifically, amplitude of the P3 waveform was used to index attentional resource allocation. Results After controlling for covariates, MPOD was selectively associated with lower peak amplitude of the P3 waveform during congruent (β = −0.36, P = 0.01) and incongruent task trials (β = −0.39, P < 0.01). No significant relationships were observed between the P3 and skin carotenoids. Skin carotenoids were associated with higher accuracy on the incongruent trials of the Flanker task (β = 0.36, P = 0.02), while no relationships were observed between MPOD and behavioral performance. Conclusions In this study, we were able to replicate previous findings demonstrating that higher accumulation of retinal carotenoids is associated with neural efficiency during a selective attention task. Skin carotenoids were associated with behavioral performance but were not related to neuroelectric indices of selective attention, suggesting site-specific benefits of carotenoid accumulation on cognitive health in childhood. Funding Sources This work is funded by the Egg Nutrition Center.

scholarly journals Effects of dense code-switching on executive control

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 648-668 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Hofweber ◽  
Theodoros Marinis ◽  
Jeanine Treffers-Daller
Keyword(s):  
Executive Functioning ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Flanker Task ◽  
Code Switching ◽  
Switching Frequency ◽  
Conflict Monitoring ◽  
Control Networks ◽  
Dense Code ◽  
Executive System ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Bilingualism is reported to re-structure executive control networks, but it remains unknown which aspects of the bilingual experience cause this modulation. This study explores the impact of three code-switching types on executive functions: (1) alternation, (2) insertion, and (3) dense code-switching or congruent lexicalisation. Current models hypothesise that different code-switching types challenge different aspects of the executive system because they vary in the extent and scope of language separation. Two groups of German-English bilinguals differing in dense code-switching frequency participated in a flanker task under conditions varying in degree of trial-mixing and resulting demands to conflict-monitoring. Bilinguals engaging in more dense code-switching showed inhibitory advantages in the condition requiring most conflict-monitoring. Moreover, dense code-switching frequency correlated positively with monitoring skills. This suggests that dense code-switching is a key experience shaping bilinguals’ executive functioning and highlights the importance of controlling for participants’ code-switching habits in bilingualism research.

Symmetries of comprehension-based language switch costs in conflicting versus non-conflicting contexts

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 588-598
Author(s):  
Cong Liu ◽  
Kalinka Timmer ◽  
Lu Jiao ◽  
Ruiming Wang
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Control ◽  
Language Comprehension ◽  
Switch Cost ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Effects Models ◽  
Switch Costs ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Control Hypothesis ◽  
Switching Task ◽  
Accuracy Data

Aims: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of contexts (i.e., non-conflicting context versus conflicting context) on bilingual language switch costs during language comprehension. Methodology: Thirty-two unbalance Chinese-English bilinguals completed a modified comprehension-based language-switching task in two contexts. They made a judgement about the colour meaning of the word. In the non-conflicting context all words were presented in white ink, while in the conflicting context the words were printed in an inconsistent ink colour. Data and analysis: Reaction time and accuracy data were analysed using mixed-effects models. Findings/conclusions: Results showed that the switch costs were larger in the conflicting context than in the non-conflicting context. Further, in the non-conflicting context an asymmetrical switch cost with larger costs for the second language was observed as compared to symmetrical switch costs in the conflicting context. Originality: This is the first study that indicates that bilingual comprehension-based language control adapts flexibly depending on the context, just as during bilingual production. Significance/implications: These findings supported and expanded the classic adaptive control hypothesis.

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