Bilingualism is a long-term cognitively challenging experience that modulates metabolite concentrations in the healthy brain

Pliatsikas, Christos; Soares, Sergio Miguel Pereira; Voits, Toms; DeLuca, Vincent; Rothman, Jason

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-86443-4

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…This was accompanied by a collection of detailed language background information permitting quantification of bilingual experience on an individual level along a spectrum. We treat language experience and regress it as a dynamic, continuous variable within a collapsed group of all participants (functional monolinguals and bilinguals) and then only within the self-identifying bilingual sample, as in Pliatsikas et al (2021). In this way and in line with calls in the recent literature (Luk and Bialystok 2013;DeLuca et al 2020;de Bruin 2019), we sidestep two potential comparative fallacies: (a) the assumption that monolinguals and bilinguals form a priori distinct groups and (b) that the members of either group are so similar to one another in relevant sense that that individual variation is trivial.…”

Section: The Present Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of bilingualism on hippocampal volume in ageing bilinguals

et al. 2022

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Long-term management of more than one language has been argued to contribute to changes in brain and cognition. This has been particularly well documented in older age, where bilingualism has been linked to protective effects against neurocognitive decline. Since memory difficulties are key aspects of this decline, herein we examine potential effects of bilingualism on the hippocampus, a brain structure related to memory that is particularly vulnerable to cognitive ageing. Hippocampal volume has been shown to increase as a result of second language learning and use in younger adults. However, it is unknown if this is maintained throughout the lifespan. We examine hippocampal volume and episodic memory performance in a participant sample consisting of healthy older individuals with a wide range of experiences in exposure and using a second language. Results reveal greater hippocampal volume calibrated to degree of quantified dual language use. Our results mirror those of immersive active bilingualism in younger populations, suggesting that long-term active bilingualism leads to neuroprotective effects in the hippocampus. We discuss this in the context of literature proposing bilingualism-induced brain reserve in the older age.

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Section: The Present Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of bilingualism on hippocampal volume in ageing bilinguals

et al. 2022

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“…However, such a view is not supported by other studies which show a broad variability in habitual code-switching patterns across bilingual communities (Backus, 2005;Lai & O'Brien, 2020). Korenar et al (2021) followed up on DeLuca et al ( 2019) but they additionally tested their hypotheses that the effects of bilingualism on the brain may be nonlinear (Pliatsikas, 2020) by using Generalised Additive Models (GAMs) for modelling possible non-linear brain adaptations (Pliatsikas, 2021;Pliatsikas et al, 2020). The study showed that volumes of the thalamus related linearly, and volumes of the caudate nucleus related non-linearly to the degree of bilingual experiences as measured using a composite score derived from the LSBQ, which subsumes information about code-switching frequency.…”

Section: Bilingualism-induced Structural Brain Changes In the Thalamu...mentioning

confidence: 98%

Structural neural correlates of habitual code-switching practices in bilinguals

Kořenář¹,

Treffers‐Daller²,

Pliatsikas³

2022

Preprint

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Bilingualism impacts brain structure, especially in regions involved in language control and processing. However, bilingual experiences are complex and the relation of brain structural changes to key aspects of bilingual language use are thus far poorly understood. Here we used structural MRI and non-linear correlational analysis in Czech-English bilinguals to investigate the effects of habitual code-switching practices on brain structure. We studied the effects of usage frequency of various code-switching types on the volumes of the caudate nucleus and the thalamus, two prominent subcortical structures subserving code-switching. Overall code-switching frequency was measured as well as extent of engagement in various code-switching types. These types were categorised by directionality (L1-L2 or L2-L1) and the level of separation of the two languages. Caudate volumes were positively correlated with overall code-switching frequency, irrespective of code-switching type or directionality, although stronger effects were found for L1-L2 switches. Thalamic volumes were positively correlated with engagement in forms of CS for which the two languages are kept more separate, with stronger effects observed in L2-L1 switches. This pattern of results underscores the theoretical and methodological importance of using detailed measures of bilingual experiences when investigating the sources of bilingualism-induced neuroplasticity.

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“…However, questionnaires that evaluate participants' language experience and language use focus on bilinguals, neglecting the different and specific linguistic experiences of monolinguals. Participants categorized as monolinguals are either not asked to fill out more detailed questions about their language experience, or the information on their linguistic experiences is gathered using bilingual questionnaires (e.g., [35]). In both cases, the linguistic diversity of a monolingual environment (e.g., (in)formal language learning and passive exposure to other languages, or sporadic active use of foreign languages) tends to be overlooked.…”

Section: Assessing Language Experience In Bilinguals and Monolingualsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While some researchers have used bilingual questionnaires to categorize participants as monolinguals or bilinguals (e.g., LEAP-Q for [45,46]) or to position them on a continuum (e.g., LSBQ for [35,[47][48][49][50]), we propose that monolinguals should complete different questionnaires than their bilingual peers, and these questionnaires should include questions that are relevant to capture their specific linguistic experiences. For example, the LSBQ [31] contains a detailed assessment of language use; nevertheless, it instructs participants to include languages that they can "speak and understand".…”

Section: Insights For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Am I truly monolingual? Exploring foreign language experiences in monolinguals

Castro¹,

Wodniecka²,

Timmer³

2021

Preprint

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Monolingualism has typically been understood as a homogeneous phenomenon. The linguistic experiences of monolinguals are usually overlooked when analysing the impact of foreign language experiences on language processing and cognitive functioning. In this study, we analyse the linguistic experiences of 962 English-speaking individuals from the United Kingdom (UK) who identified as monolinguals. Through an online survey, we found that more than 80% of these monolinguals had in fact learned at least one foreign language, dialect, or type of jargon. More than half of this 80% of monolinguals also used languages they had learned at some point in their lives. Moreover, nearly 40% of all the studied monolinguals confirmed that they had been exposed to foreign languages or dialects in their environment; approximately a fourth of these monolinguals who declared exposure to at least one foreign language (or dialect) confirmed that they also used these languages. Furthermore, activities that involved passive use of languages (e.g., watching TV) were occasionally carried out in foreign languages: around 26% of these monolinguals confirmed the passive use of more than one language. Lastly, around 58% of them who had visited one or more non-English-speaking countries declared the active use of foreign languages during their stay(s). These results suggest that the linguistic experiences of monolinguals from the UK often include exposure to and use of foreign languages. Moreover, these results show the need to consider the specificity of the monolingual language experience when analysing the impact of foreign languages on cognitive functioning, as differences in the language experiences of bilinguals also have divergent impacts on cognition. Lastly, monolingual experiences are different from bilingual experiences; therefore, questionnaires that target the particular linguistic experiences of monolinguals should be developed.

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Bilingualism is a long-term cognitively challenging experience that modulates metabolite concentrations in the healthy brain

Cited by 16 publications

References 75 publications

The effects of bilingualism on hippocampal volume in ageing bilinguals

The effects of bilingualism on hippocampal volume in ageing bilinguals

Structural neural correlates of habitual code-switching practices in bilinguals

Am I truly monolingual? Exploring foreign language experiences in monolinguals

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