scholarly journals On the need of theoretically guided approaches to possible bilingual advantages: an evaluation of the potential loci in the language and executive control systems

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Esti Blanco-Elorrieta ◽  
Alfonso Caramazza
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Potential Sources ◽  
Heated Debate ◽  
Language Control

Abstract Whether a cognitive advantage exists for bilingual individuals has been the source of heated debate in the last decade. While empirical evidence putatively in favor or against this alleged advantage has been frequently discussed, the potential sources of enhanced cognitive control in bilinguals have only been broadly declared, with no mechanistic elaboration of where, why and how this purported link between bilingualism and enhanced language control develops, and how this enhancement transfers to, and subsequently improves, general executive function. Here, we evaluate different potential sources for a bilingual advantage and develop the assumptions one would have to make about the language processing system to be consistent with each of these notions. Subsequently, we delineate the limitations in the generalizations from language to overall executive function, and characterize where these advantages could be identified if there were to be any. Ultimately, we conclude that in order to make significant progress in this area, it is necessary to look for advantages in theoretically motivated areas, and that in the absence of clear theories as to the source, transfer, and target processes that could lead to potential advantages, an inconsistent body of results will follow, making the whole pursuit of a bilingual advantage moot.

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 Executive control in bilingual aphasia: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Saskia Mooijman ◽  
Rob Schoonen ◽  
Ardi Roelofs ◽  
Marina B. Ruiter
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Current State ◽  
Domain Generality ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Bilingual Aphasia ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Everyday Communication ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Much research has been dedicated to the effects of bilingualism on executive control (EC). For bilinguals with aphasia, the interplay with EC is complex. In this systematic review, we synthesize research on this topic and provide an overview of the current state of the field. First, we examine the evidence for EC deficits in bilingual persons with aphasia (bPWA). We then discuss the domain generality of bilingual language control impairments. Finally, we evaluate the bilingual advantage hypothesis in bPWA. We conclude that (1) EC impairments in bPWA are frequently observed, (2) experimental results on the relationship between linguistic and domain-general control are mixed, (3) bPWA with language control problems in everyday communication have domain-general EC problems, and (4) there are indications for EC advantages in bPWA. We end with directions for experimental work that could provide better insight into the intricate relationship between EC and bilingual aphasia.

scholarly journals The bilingualism wars: Is the bilingual advantage out of (executive) control?

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-33
Author(s):  
María Fernández-López ◽  
Manuel Perea
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Linguistic Representations ◽  
Two Sides

AbstractWhether bilingualism has an effect on the executive function of non-verbal representations is probably one of the most controversial issues in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience. As bilinguals have to alternate between two languages that compete for selection in their daily lives, they make use of selection, inhibition, and monitoring (i.e., components of executive function) more often than monolinguals. Thus, it would not be surprising that these highly trained abilities at selecting and monitoring the linguistic processes would also help the processing of non-linguistic representations. Although the “bilingual advantage” in executive control (Bialystok, 1999) has been repeatedly demonstrated, a number of recent studies—in particular since the publication of the Paap and Greenberg (2013) study—have questioned this effect. Both positive and null findings are currently being published from each of the two sides, thus making it difficult to reach consensus in the scientific community. Here, we propose a plausible solution to this debate: a group of independent researches should carry out a carefully planned large-scale study.

scholarly journals Veel talen, één brein

1970 ◽  
Vol 64 ◽  
pp. 147-163
Author(s):  
Esli Struys
Keyword(s):  
Second Language ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Global Society ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Language Control

Multilingualism has become the norm rather than the exception in our global society. Previousresearch has shown that bilingual children have advantages in cognitive control.The reason for this is that during language control they recruit general executive brainregions that are not specified for language. However, the bilingual advantage has beencontested by some studies.This article reports the methodological setup of an ongoing research in Brussels thattries to map the neural correlates, the origin and development of the assumed bilingualadvantage in cognitive control. This can be done by means of two conflict tasks that correspondto the processes involved in multilingual language processing. Besides, two differenttypes of bilingualism are distinguished according to the sociolinguistic environmentthe second language was acquired. Finally, implications for education will be discussed.

Executive control in bilingual children

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 575-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klara Marton
Keyword(s):  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Task Type ◽  
Bilingual Children ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Measurement Issues ◽  
Number Of Factors

Abstract While findings on the bilingual advantage in adults are mixed, the data from children are more consistent but still show variations. A number of factors influence the outcomes, such as individual bilingual characteristics, variations in target functions, and differences in task type. Our goal is to demonstrate that there is a complex relationship among these variables and that the outcomes of executive function (EF) studies depend on the interactions among these factors. Performance on EF is influenced by children's language proficiency, language use, age, socioeconomic status, and culture. These individual features show different interactions with different executive components. Bilingual and monolingual children differ in some EFs but not in others. Variations in tasks and other measurement issues further increase the differences in the results. We may better understand the nature of the bilingual advantage in children if we combine aspects of developmental science and language processing with hypotheses about bilingualism.

Neuroimaging Evidence in the Treatment of Bilingual/Multilingual Adults With Aphasia

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia Peñaloza ◽  
Swathi Kiran
Keyword(s):  
Control Systems ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Brain Lesion ◽  
Neural Correlates ◽  
Review Article ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Language Deficit ◽  
Language Control ◽  
The Brain

Recovery in bilingual adults with aphasia (BAA) following treatment is a dynamic process that is accompanied by changes in the functional organization of language in the brain. Lesion data and functional imaging methods can improve our understanding of language deficit and recovery in BAA. This review article aims to inform clinicians about the neuroimaging methods employed to examine the neural correlates of language treatment in BAA and the evidence of the functional changes that occur within and across the language processing and the language control systems as a function of language treatment.

scholarly journals The Source of Enhanced Cognitive Control in Bilinguals

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 1201-1206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen Emmorey ◽  
Gigi Luk ◽  
Jennie E. Pyers ◽  
Ellen Bialystok
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
The Other ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
General Effect ◽  
Bilingual Advantage ◽  
Language Selection ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Perceptual Systems

Bilinguals often outperform monolinguals on nonverbal tasks that require resolving conflict from competing alternatives. The regular need to select a target language is argued to enhance executive control. We investigated whether this enhancement stems from a general effect of bilingualism (the representation of two languages) or from a modality constraint that forces language selection. Bimodal bilinguals can, but do not always, sign and speak at the same time. Their two languages involve distinct motor and perceptual systems, leading to weaker demands on language control. We compared the performance of 15 monolinguals, 15 bimodal bilinguals, and 15 unimodal bilinguals on a set of flanker tasks. There were no group differences in accuracy, but unimodal bilinguals were faster than the other groups; bimodal bilinguals did not differ from monolinguals. These results trace the bilingual advantage in cognitive control to the unimodal bilingual's experience controlling two languages in the same modality.

In Search of a Human Language Processing System

1985 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 529-531
Author(s):  
Patrick Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Processing System ◽  
Human Language

Predictions of Actions and Their Justifications in False-Belief Tasks: The Role of Executive Function

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 500-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam Putko ◽  
Agata Złotogórska
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Executive Function ◽  
Language Development ◽  
Executive Control ◽  
Working Memory Capacity ◽  
Mental States ◽  
False Belief ◽  
Current Location ◽  
False Belief Tasks ◽  
Development Of Language

Abstract The main objective of this study was to examine whether children’s ability to justify their action predictions in terms of mental states is related, in a similar way as the ability to predict actions, to such aspects of executive function (EF) as executive control and working memory. An additional objective was to check whether the frequency of different types of justifications made by children in false-belief tasks is associated with aforementioned aspects of EF, as well as language. The study included 59 children aged 3-4 years. The ability to predict actions and to justify these predictions was measured with false-belief tasks. Luria’s hand-game was used to assess executive control, and the Counting and Labelling dual-task was used to assess working memory capacity. Language development was controlled using an embedded syntax test. It was found that executive control was a significant predictor of the children’s ability to justify their action predictions in terms of mental states, even when age and language were taken into account. Results also indicated a relationship between the type of justification in the false-belief task and language development. With the development of language children gradually cease to justify their action predictions in terms of current location, and they tend to construct irrelevant justifications before they begin to refer to beliefs. Data suggest that executive control, in contrast to language, is a factor which affects the development of the children’s ability to justify their action predictions only in its later phase, during a shift from irrelevant to correct justifications.

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