Bridging language and attention: Brain basis of the impact of bilingualism on cognitive control

Garbin, G.; Sanjuán, Ana; Forn, Cristina; Bustamante, Juan Carlos; Rodríguez-Pujadas, Aina; Belloch, Vicente; Hernández, Mireia; Costa, Albert; Ávila, César

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2010.05.078

Cited by 265 publications

(244 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Existing neuroimaging work on bilingual language control has strongly implicated the dorsal striatum (reviewed by Friederici, 2006;and by Hervais-Adelman et al, 2011), with investigations of language switching having revealed a particular role for the caudate nucleus, bilaterally (Abutalebi and Green, 2008;Garbin et al, 2010;Luk et al, 2012;Moritz-Gasser and Duffau, 2009). Neuroimaging studies of translation have also implicated basal ganglia structures including the putamen and caudate nucleus (Price et al, 1999), and the external globus pallidus (Lehtonen et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The evidence from both lesion studies (for example Abutalebi et al, 2000Abutalebi et al, , 2009 and functional imaging of bilingual language control (Abutalebi and Green, 2008;Garbin et al, 2010;Klein et al, 1994Klein et al, , 1995Klein et al, , 2006Lehtonen et al, 2005;Price et al, 1999) has tended to suggest that this function of the basal ganglia is left-lateralized. However, a meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies of language switching indicates that both right and left striatal structures are implicated in language switching .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Brain functional plasticity associated with the emergence of expertise in extreme language control

2015

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We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to longitudinally examine brain plasticity arising from long-term, intensive simultaneous interpretation training. Simultaneous interpretation is a bilingual task with heavy executive control demands. We compared brain responses observed during simultaneous interpretation with those observed during simultaneous speech repetition (shadowing) in a group of trainee simultaneous interpreters, at the beginning and at the end of their professional training program. Age, sex and languageproficiency matched controls were scanned at similar intervals. Using multivariate pattern classification, we found distributed patterns of changes in functional responses from the first to second scan that distinguished the interpreters from the controls. We also found reduced recruitment of the right caudate nucleus during simultaneous interpretation as a result of training. Such practice-related change is consistent with decreased demands on multilingual language control as the task becomes more automatized with practice. These results demonstrate the impact of simultaneous interpretation training on the brain functional response in a cerebral structure that is not specifically linguistic, but that is known to be involved in learning, in motor control, and in a variety of domain-general executive functions. Along with results of recent studies showing functional and structural adaptations in the caudate nuclei of experts in a broad range of domains, our results underline the importance of this structure as a central node in expertise-related networks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain functional plasticity associated with the emergence of expertise in extreme language control

2015

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“…Switching between several tasks (a classic probe of executive functions) correlates with the activation of language networks in bilinguals (but not monolinguals) even in non-linguistic tasks 52 . In conflict tasks that involve monitoring, bilinguals show less activation of the anterior cingulate cortex 53 , a fundamental hub for the coordination of cognitive control 54 .…”

Section: R E V I E Wmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neuroscience and education: prime time to build the bridge

et al. 2014

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“…One hypothesis is that bilinguals recruit more distributed brain networks to manage two language systems and prolonged practice engages these neural systems to process information more efficiently, even when the task does not involve language. Neuroimaging studies with young bilinguals have indeed shown that cognitive performance on nonverbal executive function tasks is associated with utilization of more distributed brain networks than those used by monolinguals (Garbin et al, 2010;Luk et al, 2010;Moreno et al, 2010). The engagement of more distributed brain networks may reflect stronger white matter (WM) connectivity between brain regions, facilitating information transfer and resulting in better executive performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lifelong Bilingualism Maintains White Matter Integrity in Older Adults

Luk¹,

Bialystok²,

Craik³

et al. 2011

J. Neurosci.

355

303

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Previous research has shown that bilingual speakers have higher levels of cognitive control than comparable monolinguals, especially at older ages. The present study investigates a possible neural correlate of this behavioral effect. Given that white matter (WM) integrity decreases with age in adulthood, we tested the hypothesis that bilingualism is associated with maintenance of WM in older people. Using diffusion tensor imaging, we found higher WM integrity in older people who were lifelong bilinguals than in monolinguals. This maintained integrity was measured by fractional anisotropy (FA) and was found in the corpus callosum extending to the superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi. We also hypothesized that stronger WM connections would be associated with more widely distributed patterns of functional connectivity in bilinguals. We tested this by assessing the resting-state functional connectivity of frontal lobe regions adjacent to WM areas with group differences in FA. Bilinguals showed stronger anterior to posterior functional connectivity compared to monolinguals. These results are the first evidence that maintained WM integrity is related to lifelong naturally occurring experience; the resulting enhanced structural and functional connectivity may provide a neural basis for "brain reserve."

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Bridging language and attention: Brain basis of the impact of bilingualism on cognitive control

Cited by 265 publications

References 34 publications

Brain functional plasticity associated with the emergence of expertise in extreme language control

Brain functional plasticity associated with the emergence of expertise in extreme language control

Neuroscience and education: prime time to build the bridge

Lifelong Bilingualism Maintains White Matter Integrity in Older Adults

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