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Chapter 13. Research on individual differences in executive functions

Implications for the bilingual advantage hypothesis
  • Naomi P. Friedman
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Bilingualism, Executive Function, and Beyond
Ein Kapitel aus dem Buch Bilingualism, Executive Function, and Beyond

Abstract

Executive functions (EFs), such as response inhibition, interference control, and set shifting, are general-purpose control mechanisms that enable individuals to regulate their thoughts and behaviors. Because bilingual individuals use EF-like processes during language control, researchers have become interested in the hypothesis that this use might train EFs, resulting in better performance on non-linguistic EF tasks. Although this bilingual advantage hypothesis seems straightforward to test, it involves a number of important decisions in terms of how to assess bilingualism and EFs. In this article, I focus on the complexity of measuring EFs, drawing on individual differences research (conducted with participants not selected for bilingualism). Specifically, I discuss issues related to (1) the measurement of EFs (particularly the effects of task impurity and unreliability) and (2) the multicomponent nature of EFs. Within each of these topics, I elaborate on consequences for research on bilingual advantages and provide some recommendations.

Abstract

Executive functions (EFs), such as response inhibition, interference control, and set shifting, are general-purpose control mechanisms that enable individuals to regulate their thoughts and behaviors. Because bilingual individuals use EF-like processes during language control, researchers have become interested in the hypothesis that this use might train EFs, resulting in better performance on non-linguistic EF tasks. Although this bilingual advantage hypothesis seems straightforward to test, it involves a number of important decisions in terms of how to assess bilingualism and EFs. In this article, I focus on the complexity of measuring EFs, drawing on individual differences research (conducted with participants not selected for bilingualism). Specifically, I discuss issues related to (1) the measurement of EFs (particularly the effects of task impurity and unreliability) and (2) the multicomponent nature of EFs. Within each of these topics, I elaborate on consequences for research on bilingual advantages and provide some recommendations.

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Bilingualism, executive function, and beyond 1
  4. Part I. Beyond simple relations
  5. Chapter 2. The signal and the noise 17
  6. Chapter 3. Variation in language experience shapes the consequences of bilingualism 35
  7. Chapter 4. Adaptive control and brain plasticity 49
  8. Chapter 5. Comparing executive functions in monolinguals and bilinguals 67
  9. Chapter 6. Cooking pasta in La Paz 81
  10. Part II. Language processing
  11. Chapter 7. Interference control in bilingual auditory sentence processing in noise 103
  12. Chapter 8. Investigating grammatical processing in bilinguals 117
  13. Chapter 9. Referring expressions and executive functions in bilingualism 131
  14. Chapter 10. Language control and executive control 147
  15. Chapter 11. Effects of dense code-switching on executive control 161
  16. Chapter 12. Predicting executive functions in bilinguals using ecologically valid measures of code-switching behavior 181
  17. Part III. Cognition and bilingualism
  18. Chapter 13. Research on individual differences in executive functions 209
  19. Chapter 14. Does performance on executive function tasks correlate? 223
  20. Chapter 15. Putting together bilingualism and executive function 237
  21. Chapter 16. What cognitive processes are likely to be exercised by bilingualism and does this exercise lead to extra-linguistic cognitive benefits? 247
  22. Part IV. Development, aging, and impairment
  23. Chapter 17. Executive control in bilingual children 265
  24. Chapter 18. Interactions among speed of processing, cognitive control, age, and bilingualism 281
  25. Chapter 19. Teasing apart factors influencing executive function performance in bilinguals and monolinguals at different ages 295
  26. Chapter 20. Proficient bilingualism may alleviate some executive function difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 337
  27. Chapter 21. Does bilingualism protect against cognitive aging? 355
  28. Author index 371
  29. Subject index 375
https://doi.org/10.1075/sibil.57.13fri

Kapitel in diesem Buch

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Chapter 1. Bilingualism, executive function, and beyond 1
  4. Part I. Beyond simple relations
  5. Chapter 2. The signal and the noise 17
  6. Chapter 3. Variation in language experience shapes the consequences of bilingualism 35
  7. Chapter 4. Adaptive control and brain plasticity 49
  8. Chapter 5. Comparing executive functions in monolinguals and bilinguals 67
  9. Chapter 6. Cooking pasta in La Paz 81
  10. Part II. Language processing
  11. Chapter 7. Interference control in bilingual auditory sentence processing in noise 103
  12. Chapter 8. Investigating grammatical processing in bilinguals 117
  13. Chapter 9. Referring expressions and executive functions in bilingualism 131
  14. Chapter 10. Language control and executive control 147
  15. Chapter 11. Effects of dense code-switching on executive control 161
  16. Chapter 12. Predicting executive functions in bilinguals using ecologically valid measures of code-switching behavior 181
  17. Part III. Cognition and bilingualism
  18. Chapter 13. Research on individual differences in executive functions 209
  19. Chapter 14. Does performance on executive function tasks correlate? 223
  20. Chapter 15. Putting together bilingualism and executive function 237
  21. Chapter 16. What cognitive processes are likely to be exercised by bilingualism and does this exercise lead to extra-linguistic cognitive benefits? 247
  22. Part IV. Development, aging, and impairment
  23. Chapter 17. Executive control in bilingual children 265
  24. Chapter 18. Interactions among speed of processing, cognitive control, age, and bilingualism 281
  25. Chapter 19. Teasing apart factors influencing executive function performance in bilinguals and monolinguals at different ages 295
  26. Chapter 20. Proficient bilingualism may alleviate some executive function difficulties in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders 337
  27. Chapter 21. Does bilingualism protect against cognitive aging? 355
  28. Author index 371
  29. Subject index 375
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