The electrophysiology of voluntary and cued language switching

Figures and captions for the following publication in Bilingualism, Language and Cognition: [doi tbd]

Abstract:
Multilingual language control is commonly investigated using picture-naming paradigms with explicit instructions when to switch between languages. In daily life, language-switching also occurs without external cues. Cued language-switching tasks usually show a switch cost (i.e., slower responses on switch than non-switch trials). Findings of switch costs in response times are mixed for voluntary language switching. This pre-registered study uses a bilingual picture-naming paradigm to compare voluntary and cued language switching in 25 highly proficient Dutch-English bilinguals using EEG. We analysed the N2 ERP component and midfrontal theta oscillations, two common electrophysiological markers of cognitive control in task and language switching. We observed significantly smaller behavioural switch costs in the voluntary task. This suggests naturalistic voluntary language-switching is less effortful than switching based on external cues. However, we found no electrophysiological switch effects in either task. We discuss factors which may contribute to the inconsistency between behavioural and electrophysiological findings.

本数据集收录了发表于《双语主义、语言与认知》杂志的论文中的图表及标题。[DOI待定] 摘要部分如下：

多语言语言控制通常通过带有明确指令切换语言的时间点的图片命名范式进行研究。在日常生活中，语言切换也可能在没有外部提示的情况下发生。标记语言切换任务通常显示出切换成本（即，切换语言时的反应速度比非切换试验慢）。自愿语言切换的切换成本在反应时间上的研究结果并不一致。本项预先注册的研究采用双语图片命名范式，对比了25名熟练的荷兰-英语双语者在使用脑电图（EEG）的情况下自愿与标记语言切换。我们分析了N2事件相关电位成分和中前额叶theta振荡，这两个是任务和语言切换中认知控制的常见电生理指标。我们观察到在自愿任务中的行为切换成本显著较小。这表明自然主义的自愿语言切换比基于外部提示的切换要省力。然而，我们在两个任务中均未发现电生理切换效应。我们讨论了可能导致行为和电生理发现不一致性的因素。