Individual differences in bilingual experience modulate executive control network and performance

Behavioral and structural neuroimaging evidence

Bibliographic Data

ID21697548
AuthorsFederico Gallo (0000-0002-4343-4664, National Research University Higher School of Economics, corresponding author), Nikolay Novitskiy (0000-0002-4039-5209, Chinese University of Hong Kong), Andriy Myachykov (0000-0002-1489-8582, National Research University Higher School of Economics), Yury Shtyrov (0000-0001-7203-4902, National Research University Higher School of Economics)
Year2021
Volume24
Issue2
Pages293-304
Publication date2021-03-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBilingualism Language and Cognition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1366-7289 • E-ISSN: 1469-1841
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1366728920000486
OpenAlexW3002322697
LanguageEN
Citations received14
References cited69

Dual/multiple language use has been shown to affect cognition and its neural substrate, although the replicability of such findings varies, partially due to neglecting the role of interindividual variability in bilingual experience. To address this, we operationalized the main bilingual experience factors as continuous variables, investigating their effects on executive control performance and neural substrate deploying a Flanker task and structural magnetic resonance imaging. First, higher L2 proficiency predicted better executive performance. Second, neuroimaging results indicated that bilingualism-related neuroplasticity may peak at a certain stage of bilingual experience and eventually revert, possibly following functional specialization. Importantly, experienced bilinguals optimized behavioral performance independently of volumetric variations, suggesting a degree of performance gain even with lower GMV. Hence, the effects of bilingualism on cognition may evolve with experience, with improvements in functional efficiency eventually replacing structural changes. We conclude that individual differences in bilingual experience modulate cognitive and neural consequences of bilingualism

Attentional control · Cognition · Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Neuroimaging · Categorization, perception, and language · Neurobiology of Language and Bilingualism · Neuroscience · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development · Artificial Intelligence

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