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07-05-2020 | Original Article

Bilinguals’ inhibitory control and attentional processes in a visual perceptual task

Auteurs: Marina C. Wimmer, Christina Marx, Steven Stirk, Peter J. B. Hancock

Gepubliceerd in: Psychological Research | Uitgave 4/2021

Abstract

The aim was to examine theories of bilingual inhibitory control superiority in the visual domain. In an ambiguous figure task, the ability to reverse (switch) interpretations (e.g., duck-rabbit) was examined in 3–5-year-olds bilinguals and monolinguals (N = 67). Bilingualism was no performance predictor in conceptual tasks (Droodle task, false belief task, ambiguous figures production task) that did not pose inhibitory demands. Bilinguals outperformed monolinguals in the ability to reverse, suggesting superior inhibitory capacity per se. Once reversal was experienced there was no difference in the time it took to reverse or reversal frequency between bilinguals and monolinguals. Bayesian analyses confirmed statistical result patterns. Findings support the established view of bilinguals’ superior domain-general inhibitory control. This might be brought to bear by attending the environment differently.

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Titel: Bilinguals’ inhibitory control and attentional processes in a visual perceptual task
Auteurs: Marina C. Wimmer
Christina Marx
Steven Stirk
Peter J. B. Hancock
Publicatiedatum: 07-05-2020
Uitgeverij: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Gepubliceerd in: Psychological Research / Uitgave 4/2021
Print ISSN: 0340-0727
Elektronisch ISSN: 1430-2772
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-020-01333-0

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