Content area

Abstract

Bilingualism has been shown to influence a variety of cognitive functions, most notably lexical processing and cognitive control. These effects are both detrimental and advantageous. On the one hand, it has been proposed that bilinguals experience delayed lexical access compared to monolinguals, both in the less-proficient language and in the native language, due to the relatively reduced frequency of use. On the other hand, the constant need to juggle and control two languages enhances cognitive control abilities in bilinguals, such that they outperform monolinguals on tasks of executive processing and conflict resolution. This dissertation explores these cognitive changes associated with bilingualism, primarily through the use of a Stroop task. As it combines lexical processing with cognitive control, the Stroop task is a unique paradigm in which to investigate these abilities in bilinguals. Using behavioural measures, electroencephalography, and functional magnetic resonance imaging, the experiments presented here seek to deepen our understanding of lexical processing and cognitive control in bilingualism, in order to better understand how the now-common use of multiple languages affects the functional brain.

Details

1010268
Identifier / keyword
Title
Exploring the cognitive effects of bilingualism: neuroimaging investigations of lexical processing, executive control, and the bilingual advantage
Number of pages
0
Degree date
2012
School code
0616
Source
DAI-C 74/09, Dissertation Abstracts International
University/institution
University of Nottingham (United Kingdom)
University location
England
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Note
Bibliographic data provided by EThOS, the British Library’s UK thesis service: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.570378
Dissertation/thesis number
10043571
ProQuest document ID
1779550675
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/exploring-cognitive-effects-bilingualism/docview/1779550675/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Database
ProQuest One Academic