The role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in bilingual language switching and non-linguistic task-switching

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Posted on December 6, 2023 by childrenslearninginstitute

Evidence from multi-voxel pattern analysis

Published:

December 6, 2023

Publication:

Bilingualism: Language and Cognition

CLI Author:

Kelly A. Vaughn, PhD

Abstract:

Previous research suggests that bilingual language control requires domain-general cognitive control. Recent research suggests that exploration of individual differences is key for understanding the relationship between bilingual language control and cognitive control. The current study used multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to examine within-subject patterns of fMRI activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during bilingual language switching and non-linguistic task-switching. We hypothesized that bilinguals would have identifiable, within-subject patterns of DLPFC activity for both types of switching and that bilinguals and monolinguals would differ in patterns of DLPFC activity for task-switching. We were unable to identify patterns of DLPFC activity associated with bilingual language switching. Task-switching was related to patterns of left DLPFC activity for both bilinguals and monolinguals, and there were identifiable patterns of right DLPFC activity for the bilinguals only. These findings suggest that the DLPFC is not the key brain structure connecting bilingual language and task-switching.

Citation:

Vaughn KA, Tamber-Rosenau BJ, Hernandez AE. The role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in bilingual language switching and non-linguistic task-switching: Evidence from multi-voxel pattern analysis. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition. 2023:1-10. doi:10.1017/S1366728923000834

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1017/S1366728923000834