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Chapter 8. Executive control processes in verbal and nonverbal working memory

The role of aging and bilingualism
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Abstract

Studies across the lifespan have revealed modifications in executive control (EC) from bilingualism, but studies of working memory (WM), a key aspect of EC, have produced varied results. Healthy older (M = 71.0 years) and younger participants (M = 21.1 years) who were monolingual or bilingual, performed working memory tasks that varied in their demands for EC. Tasks included a star counting task, a flanker task, and a nonverbal recent probe memory task. Bilinguals performed similarly to monolinguals on the star counting task after controlling for differences in vocabulary. Monolinguals were faster than bilinguals on the flanker task with only age group differences significant for the WM manipulation. Bilinguals were faster than monolinguals on the nonverbal recent probe memory task, particularly for the condition that included proactive interference. The interpretation is that better bilingual performance in nonverbal working memory tasks is linked to the need for executive control.

Abstract

Studies across the lifespan have revealed modifications in executive control (EC) from bilingualism, but studies of working memory (WM), a key aspect of EC, have produced varied results. Healthy older (M = 71.0 years) and younger participants (M = 21.1 years) who were monolingual or bilingual, performed working memory tasks that varied in their demands for EC. Tasks included a star counting task, a flanker task, and a nonverbal recent probe memory task. Bilinguals performed similarly to monolinguals on the star counting task after controlling for differences in vocabulary. Monolinguals were faster than bilinguals on the flanker task with only age group differences significant for the WM manipulation. Bilinguals were faster than monolinguals on the nonverbal recent probe memory task, particularly for the condition that included proactive interference. The interpretation is that better bilingual performance in nonverbal working memory tasks is linked to the need for executive control.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. The importance of bilingualism for the aging brain 1
  4. Chapter 2. Cognitive problems in older adults 9
  5. Chapter 3. How aging and bilingualism influence language processing 21
  6. Chapter 4. Length of residence 55
  7. Chapter 5. Individual differences in cognitive control advantages of elderly late Dutch-English bilinguals 77
  8. Chapter 6. Does bilingual language control decline in older age? 99
  9. Chapter 7. Auditory word recognition across the lifespan 131
  10. Chapter 8. Executive control processes in verbal and nonverbal working memory 161
  11. Chapter 9. Bilingualism, cognitive reserve and Alzheimer’s disease 185
  12. Chapter 10. The effect of language skills on dementia in a Swedish longitudinal cohort 205
  13. Chapter 11. Bilingualism, cognitive reserve, aging, and dementia 219
  14. Chapter 12. The impact of bilingualism on cognitive ageing and dementia 243
  15. Chapter 13. History-inspired reflections on the Bilingual Advantages Hypothesis 265
  16. Index 297
Growing Old with Two Languages
This chapter is in the book Growing Old with Two Languages
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.53.08sul

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. The importance of bilingualism for the aging brain 1
  4. Chapter 2. Cognitive problems in older adults 9
  5. Chapter 3. How aging and bilingualism influence language processing 21
  6. Chapter 4. Length of residence 55
  7. Chapter 5. Individual differences in cognitive control advantages of elderly late Dutch-English bilinguals 77
  8. Chapter 6. Does bilingual language control decline in older age? 99
  9. Chapter 7. Auditory word recognition across the lifespan 131
  10. Chapter 8. Executive control processes in verbal and nonverbal working memory 161
  11. Chapter 9. Bilingualism, cognitive reserve and Alzheimer’s disease 185
  12. Chapter 10. The effect of language skills on dementia in a Swedish longitudinal cohort 205
  13. Chapter 11. Bilingualism, cognitive reserve, aging, and dementia 219
  14. Chapter 12. The impact of bilingualism on cognitive ageing and dementia 243
  15. Chapter 13. History-inspired reflections on the Bilingual Advantages Hypothesis 265
  16. Index 297
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