The Role of Bilingualism on the Relationship between Cognitive Resilience and Cognitive Load: A Behavioral and Electrical Neuroimaging Study

Background and Aim : In line with conducting a surge of research on cognition in different domains, the significance of cognitive load and cognitive resilience have been highlighted in the bilinguals’ working memory. Previous studies have demonstrated two hypothesizes that bilinguals outperformed monolinguals in their cognitive ability. The other hypothesis is explained as bilinguals occupy more information in their working memory, therefore, their performance would be hindered. To better clarify the effect of second language use on bilingual speakers’ cognitive abilities, the current study compared the relationship of cognitive load and cognitive resilience between bilinguals and monolinguals. Cognitive resilience and cognitive load have been frequently measured using subjective and physiological approaches.Methods : In the current study, we measured cognitive resilience using behavioral measurement and electrical neuroimaging (EEG) while performing cognitive tasks with different levels of difficulty namely, simple, moderately difficult, and highly difficult versions of Stroop Task to manipulate the level of cognitive load. The Stroop task consisted of congruent, incongruent, and neutral trials.Results : The achieved data reported that when cognitive load increases moderately , bilinguals have a significantly lower Stroop effect than monolinguals. Moreover, the results of the current study revealed different brain activity topographies in response to different levels of cognitive load.Conclusion : This is probably representing the activity of the regions responsible for managing cognitive overload and participants’ performance in the case of increasing cognitive demand.

کلیدواژه ها:

Cognitive resilience ، cognitive load ، Stroop Task ، cognitive abilities