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Cognitive control in bilinguals: Effects of language experience and individual variability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2019

Michela Bonfieni ,
Holly P. Branigan ,
Martin J. Pickering  and
Antonella Sorace
Michela Bonfieni*
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
Holly P. Branigan
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
Martin J. Pickering
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
Antonella Sorace
Affiliation:
University of Edinburgh
*
Address for correspondence: Michela Bonfieni, Email: s1471546@sms.ed.ac.uk
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Abstract

We report a study that investigated executive functions in four groups of participants that varied in bilingual language experience, using a task that measured two theoretically motivated mechanisms of cognitive control (proactive and reactive control). Analyses of accuracy based on aggregated measures suggested an advantage in early highly proficient bilinguals over late passive bilinguals. However, when we factored in individual variability using mixed-model regression with a full random effect structure, we only found a marginal effect of language experience. Our results emphasise the importance of including individual variability when studying bilingualism, and highlight a fundamental consideration in research on the relation between language and attention – namely, the need for a theory-driven approach to measuring cognitive control through laboratory tasks.

Keywords

bilingual experienceindividual variabilitycognitive controlAX-CPTmixed-model regression
Type
Research Article
Information
Bilingualism: Language and Cognition , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , January 2020 , pp. 219 - 230
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2019 

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