Effects of language context on executive control in unbalanced bilinguals: An ERPs study

Abstract

The influence of the language context on language control has been widely discussed in the bilingualism literature, and there is an increase in studies examining the effect of language context on domain-general executive control. However, it remains unclear how language contexts affect executive control performance. In the present study, we created single-and mixed-language comprehension contexts. Unbalanced Chinese-English bilinguals completed a modified flanker task that was interleaved with a single-language or mixed-language picture-word matching task. The effects of language comprehension context on language control were reflected by the N2 and LPC effects. Executive control processes also differed depending on the language comprehension context, with faster behavioral responses and larger N2 but smaller P3 electrophysiological components in the mixed-language context. Moreover, the LPC amplitude in the mixed-language context predicted the behavioral performance in the executive control task. These findings suggested that flexible language control during language comprehension altered executive control processes in unbalanced bilinguals.

Predictions about the Cognitive Consequences of Language Switching on Executive Functioning Inspired by the Adaptive Control Hypothesis Fail More Often than Not

“…Thus, the reduced P300 amplitude observed does not reflect better performance. A similar reduction in P300 amplitude was reported by Jiao and colleagues [ 30 ] in a study discussed below. This could be another case where confirmation bias leads authors to interpret an “ambiguous” neuroscience outcome as a positive and supporting outcome [ 31 ].…”

“…Several additional studies have adopted this paradigm of alternating trials between a language task and a flanker task rather than manipulating language context in an incidental manner. Two studies by Jiao and colleagues [ 30 , 35 ] used a picture–word verification task where languages were mixed in one block, but always English or always Chinese in the pure blocks. These experiments consistently show global RT advantages in the mixed condition, but usually no advantage in the flanker interference effect.…”

Current trends in electrophysiological research on bilingual language processing

“…The P3, on the other hand, is a positive-going wave peaking in amplitude between 300 and 500 ms after stimulus onset and characterized by a broad scalp distribution. The component has been postulated to reflect response inhibition, stimulus categorization and evaluation, and resource allocation (Jiao et al, 2020;Polich, 2007). In task-switching paradigms, attenuated P3 responses are found in mixed-task compared to repeat task conditions (Barceló et al, 2000;Gajewski & Falkenstein, 2011;Goffaux et al, 2006).…”

“…In experiments employing executive control tasks, both N2 and P3 were analysed by Jiao et al (2020), who tested unbalanced Chinese-English bilinguals in a modified flanker task which was interleaved with either a single-language or a mixed-language picture-word matching task. The results showed larger N2 but smaller P3 responses when performing the flanker task in the mixed-language compared to single-language condition.…”

Switching between newly learned languages impacts executive control

“…Previous studies have established the relationship between language switching and executive control in skilled languages (Adler et al., 2020; Jiao, Liu, et al., 2020) and have elaborated on the predictive effects of executive control on learning outcomes of new languages (Kapa & Colombo, 2014). Advancing this body of work, the present study utilizes EEG technology, in a pre‐/post‐training design, to analyze the effects of switching between newly learned languages on executive control.…”