Measuring the Timing of the Bilingual Advantage

Abstract

Empirical evidence has supported the idea that the bilingual advantage is a question of nuanced differences between bilinguals and monolinguals. In this article, I review findings from studies using eye tracking, mouse tracking, and event-related potentials (ERPs) which are particularly suited to measure time. Understanding the timing of the processes underlying executive function is crucial in evaluating the intricacies of the bilingual mind. Furthermore, I provide recommendations on how to best use these timing techniques to compare bilinguals and monolinguals. Temporal differences can characterize ongoing discussions of the bilingual advantage and help explain conflicting findings. Methodological and analytical innovations to better investigate the timing of the cognitive processes at play will inform a wide range of areas in cognitive science.

Design choices: Empirical recommendations for designing two-dimensional finger-tracking experiments

“…For the same reasons, we report the full analysis of all DVs online ( www.osf.io/am6yp ). For the main text, we will focus on IT, SA, MT, and AUC, as they provide an overview of both temporal and spatial measures of both early and late stages of the movement (for a more elaborate reasoning for these DVs, as well as a correlation matrix of all DVs and a factor analysis akin to Incera, 2018 , also see www.osf.io/am6yp ). Temporal measures are of interest for the current setup because incompatibility of stimulus and response location is expected to prolong action planning, and the incompatible location of a stimulus should further attract the trajectory (relative to compatible trials; Buetti & Kerzel, 2008 ; Wirth, Foerster, Herbort, Kunde, & Pfister, 2018 ).…”

Influences of First and Second Language Phonology on Spanish Children Learning to Read in English

“…The MouseTracker program measures participants’ mouse positions over time, which includes three variables: y -coordinates, x -coordinates, and time (in milliseconds). Since three-dimensional graphs are hard to visualize, the standard in the field is to report x -coordinates over time [see ( Incera, 2018 ), for a detailed discussion of methodological concerns and practical recommendations when using the mouse-tracking paradigm with bilingual populations]. While all participants move the mouse upwards (START is at the bottom and the response options are at the top of the screen) the way in which the task is set up results in the manipulation influencing whether participants move right or left (toward the response options on the right or left corner).…”

“… Freeman and Ambady, 2010 ). The mouse-tracking paradigm has been extensively used in psycholinguistics research ( Spivey et al, 2005 ; Barca and Pezzulo, 2015 ; Incera and McLennan, 2016 ; Incera, 2018 ). In line with previous research, the mouse-tracking paradigm measures errors and reaction times, so direct comparisons with other studies can be performed.…”