Bilinguals Demonstrate Stronger Inhibitory Response Bias in Tasks of Executive Function
Abstract
From switching from one task to another or quickly memorizing a number to call, people use executive function daily. Executive function is thought to be controlled by frontal lobe inhibitory processes. Reportedly, people who speak more than one language also use the same frontal lobe processes to switch between languages. It is therefore believed that these inhibitory processes are more prominent in bilinguals because of the experience of controlling multiple languages. To test this theory, bilinguals and monolinguals were compared on executive function tasks. Participants were matched on demographic variables and fluid intelligence. To examine inhibition, participants were tested with a Go/No-Go task, in which they either had to respond or inhibit a button press. Working memory was assessed with an n-back task. Participants had to determine if the stimulus presented was the same as the one presented n positions before. A Switch task was administered to examine shifting abilities. Participants responded to target stimulus dimensions. All executive functions tasks were presented using non-verbal stimuli in both auditory and visual modalities. Brainwave activity and behavioral responses were recorded during task performance. Bilinguals exhibited stronger inhibition in behavioral responses and neural activity [measured by the N2/P3 component of the event related potential (ERP)]. On the Switch task, bilinguals had a stronger N2 ERP than monolinguals, but their performance was weaker. Working memory performance favored monolinguals, but neural activity was similar between groups.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Mercedes Fernandez
Project Type
Event
Start Date
4-6-2022 12:00 PM
End Date
4-7-2022 5:00 PM
Bilinguals Demonstrate Stronger Inhibitory Response Bias in Tasks of Executive Function
From switching from one task to another or quickly memorizing a number to call, people use executive function daily. Executive function is thought to be controlled by frontal lobe inhibitory processes. Reportedly, people who speak more than one language also use the same frontal lobe processes to switch between languages. It is therefore believed that these inhibitory processes are more prominent in bilinguals because of the experience of controlling multiple languages. To test this theory, bilinguals and monolinguals were compared on executive function tasks. Participants were matched on demographic variables and fluid intelligence. To examine inhibition, participants were tested with a Go/No-Go task, in which they either had to respond or inhibit a button press. Working memory was assessed with an n-back task. Participants had to determine if the stimulus presented was the same as the one presented n positions before. A Switch task was administered to examine shifting abilities. Participants responded to target stimulus dimensions. All executive functions tasks were presented using non-verbal stimuli in both auditory and visual modalities. Brainwave activity and behavioral responses were recorded during task performance. Bilinguals exhibited stronger inhibition in behavioral responses and neural activity [measured by the N2/P3 component of the event related potential (ERP)]. On the Switch task, bilinguals had a stronger N2 ERP than monolinguals, but their performance was weaker. Working memory performance favored monolinguals, but neural activity was similar between groups.
