Navigating the Mind's Bilingual Maze: Understanding Cognitive Advantages Across Variables

Research Article
Open access

Navigating the Mind's Bilingual Maze: Understanding Cognitive Advantages Across Variables

Ruiqi Liu 1* , Wendi Li 2 , Bangkai Xiong 3 , Zherui Zhang 4 , Likai Yan 5
  • 1 The Shipley School    
  • 2 Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School    
  • 3 Shenzhen Middle School    
  • 4 Southwest Weiyu Middle School    
  • 5 Guangdong Experimental High School    
  • *corresponding author Richardliu38359@outlook.com
Published on 19 April 2024 | https://doi.org/10.54254/2753-7048/46/20230655
LNEP Vol.46
ISSN (Print): 2753-7056
ISSN (Online): 2753-7048
ISBN (Print): 978-1-83558-361-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-83558-362-3

Abstract

It is widely held that bilinguals hold cognitive advantages in working memory compared to monolinguals; however, is there really a conclusive argument? The present study delves into the intriguing relationship between bilingualism and working memory, exploring the debate of potential cognitive advantages that bilinguals might possess. By analyzing seminal works, key studies supporting bilingual advantage, and perspectives challenging this view, this paper synthesizes findings regarding bilingualism’s cognitive benefits beyond language processing, delineating its significant contributions and its methodological and conceptual limitations. Additionally, the study considers the potential implications of bilingual advantage in education and in addressing neurodegenerative diseases. It identifies substantive gaps in the current understanding, including a lack of standardization in experimental designs and reporting standards and a limited focus on confounding variables.

Keywords:

Bilingualism, Cognitive Advantages, Attentional Control, Alerting, Working Memory

Liu,R.;Li,W.;Xiong,B.;Zhang,Z.;Yan,L. (2024). Navigating the Mind's Bilingual Maze: Understanding Cognitive Advantages Across Variables. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,46,115-125.
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References

[1]. Bialystok, E., 1999. Cognitive Complexity and Attentional Control in the Bilingual Mind. Child Development 70, 636–644. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00046

[2]. Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., Klein, R., Viswanathan, M., 2004. Bilingualism, Aging, and Cognitive Control: Evidence From the Simon Task. Psychology and Aging 19, 290–303. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.19.2.290

[3]. Prior, A., Gollan, T.H., 2011. Good Language-Switchers are Good Task-Switchers: Evidence from Spanish–English and Mandarin–English Bilinguals. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 17, 682–691. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617711000580

[4]. Morales, J., Calvo, A., Bialystok, E., 2013. Working memory development in monolingual and bilingual children. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 114, 187–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2012.09.002

[5]. Costa, A., Hernández, M., Sebastián-Gallés, N., 2008. Bilingualism aids conflict resolution: Evidence from the ANT task. Cognition 106, 59–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2006.12.013

[6]. Kaushanskaya, M., Marian, V., 2009. The bilingual advantage in novel word learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 16, 705–710. https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.16.4.705

[7]. Duñabeitia, J.A., Carreiras, M., 2015. The bilingual advantage: Acta est fabula? Cortex 73, 371–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2015.06.009

[8]. De Bruin, A., Treccani, B., Della Sala, S., 2015. Cognitive Advantage in Bilingualism: An Example of Publication Bias? Psychol Sci 26, 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614557866

[9]. Kousaie, S., Phillips, N.A., 2012. Conflict monitoring and resolution: Are two languages better than one? Evidence from reaction time and event-related brain potentials. Brain Research 1446, 71–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.052

[10]. Kousaie, S., Phillips, N.A., 2017. A behavioral and electrophysiological investigation of the effect of bilingualism on aging and cognitive control. Neuropsychologia 94, 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.11.013

[11]. Paap, K.R., Johnson, H.A., Sawi, O., 2015. Bilingual advantages in executive functioning either do not exist or are restricted to very specific and undetermined circumstances. Cortex 69, 265–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2015.04.014

[12]. Luk, G., Bialystok, E., 2013. Bilingualism is not a categorical variable: Interaction between language proficiency and usage. Journal of Cognitive Psychology 25, 605–621. https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2013.795574

[13]. Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., Freedman, M., 2007. Bilingualism as a protection against the onset of symptoms of dementia. Neuropsychologia 45, 459–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.10.009

[14]. Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., Luk, G., 2012. Bilingualism: consequences for mind and brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 16, 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.03.001

Cite this article

Liu,R.;Li,W.;Xiong,B.;Zhang,Z.;Yan,L. (2024). Navigating the Mind's Bilingual Maze: Understanding Cognitive Advantages Across Variables. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,46,115-125.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of the International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities

ISBN：978-1-83558-361-6(Print) / 978-1-83558-362-3(Online)
Editor：Enrique Mallen, Javier Cifuentes-Faura
Conference website: https://www.icgpsh.org/
Conference date: 13 October 2023
Series: Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media
Volume number: Vol.46
ISSN：2753-7048(Print) / 2753-7056(Online)

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References

[1]. Bialystok, E., 1999. Cognitive Complexity and Attentional Control in the Bilingual Mind. Child Development 70, 636–644. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00046

[2]. Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., Klein, R., Viswanathan, M., 2004. Bilingualism, Aging, and Cognitive Control: Evidence From the Simon Task. Psychology and Aging 19, 290–303. https://doi.org/10.1037/0882-7974.19.2.290

[3]. Prior, A., Gollan, T.H., 2011. Good Language-Switchers are Good Task-Switchers: Evidence from Spanish–English and Mandarin–English Bilinguals. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 17, 682–691. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617711000580

[4]. Morales, J., Calvo, A., Bialystok, E., 2013. Working memory development in monolingual and bilingual children. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology 114, 187–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2012.09.002

[5]. Costa, A., Hernández, M., Sebastián-Gallés, N., 2008. Bilingualism aids conflict resolution: Evidence from the ANT task. Cognition 106, 59–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2006.12.013

[6]. Kaushanskaya, M., Marian, V., 2009. The bilingual advantage in novel word learning. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review 16, 705–710. https://doi.org/10.3758/PBR.16.4.705

[7]. Duñabeitia, J.A., Carreiras, M., 2015. The bilingual advantage: Acta est fabula? Cortex 73, 371–372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2015.06.009

[8]. De Bruin, A., Treccani, B., Della Sala, S., 2015. Cognitive Advantage in Bilingualism: An Example of Publication Bias? Psychol Sci 26, 99–107. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614557866

[9]. Kousaie, S., Phillips, N.A., 2012. Conflict monitoring and resolution: Are two languages better than one? Evidence from reaction time and event-related brain potentials. Brain Research 1446, 71–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.052

[10]. Kousaie, S., Phillips, N.A., 2017. A behavioral and electrophysiological investigation of the effect of bilingualism on aging and cognitive control. Neuropsychologia 94, 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2016.11.013

[11]. Paap, K.R., Johnson, H.A., Sawi, O., 2015. Bilingual advantages in executive functioning either do not exist or are restricted to very specific and undetermined circumstances. Cortex 69, 265–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2015.04.014

[12]. Luk, G., Bialystok, E., 2013. Bilingualism is not a categorical variable: Interaction between language proficiency and usage. Journal of Cognitive Psychology 25, 605–621. https://doi.org/10.1080/20445911.2013.795574

[13]. Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., Freedman, M., 2007. Bilingualism as a protection against the onset of symptoms of dementia. Neuropsychologia 45, 459–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2006.10.009

[14]. Bialystok, E., Craik, F.I.M., Luk, G., 2012. Bilingualism: consequences for mind and brain. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 16, 240–250. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2012.03.001

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