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The Adaptive Control Hypothesis and the Control Process Model propose that bilingual language use in different interactional contexts requires control processes that can adapt in different ways to linguistic demands. This study explored the effects of language experience on cognitive flexibility and inhibition among 41 Chinese–English bilingual adults. In particular, it aimed to investigate the relationship between spontaneous language production (i.e., bilingual conversation and narration tasks) and cognitive control. Participants’ inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility efficiency was measured through verbal and spatial Stroop tasks, and a colour-shape switching task. Overall, it showed that frequent practices of intersentential switching in speech production resulted in significant facilitatory effects in both verbal and nonverbal inhibitory control. This study provides new evidence for the importance of bilingual language experience in adaptive cognitive control in naturalistic speech production and furthers our theoretical knowledge of the relationship between the language system and crucial domain-general cognitive processes.
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; Li, Wei 2 ; Filippi, Roberto 2 1 Institute for Lifecourse Development, School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences, University of Greenwich, London, UK; Centre for Research in Language and Heritage, Institute for Inclusive Communities and Environments, University of Greenwich, London, UK; MULTAC (Multilanguage and Cognition Lab), Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
2 Institute of Education, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, University College London, London, UK; MULTAC (Multilanguage and Cognition Lab), Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK