Do bilinguals have an advantage in working memory?4 answersBilinguals have been found to have an advantage in working memory capacity. Research suggests that bilinguals have higher working memory capacity, which helps them store vocabulary and linguistic information, enhancing their ability for second language acquisition. Bilingual speakers also perform better in verbal working memory tasks, such as word retrieval, compared to monolingual speakers. However, a study specifically exploring the effects of bilingualism on working memory in children with developmental language disorder (DLD) found no advantage of bilingualism in working memory performance. Overall, while there is evidence of a bilingual advantage in working memory capacity, it may not be universal and may depend on factors such as age, language proficiency, and cognitive abilities.
How does code switching affect cognitive flexibility and productivity in multilingual individuals?4 answersCode switching in multilingual individuals affects cognitive flexibility and productivity. It has been found that frequent bilingual switchers show higher efficiency in verbal and nonverbal cognitive shifting, as well as in inhibitory control tasks. Additionally, bilinguals with intensive code-switching experience demonstrate better performance in tasks requiring response inhibition. The ability to engage in fluent code switching is seen as a hallmark of the flexibility and creativity of bilingual language use. Code switching serves as an opportunistic strategy for optimizing performance in cooperative communication, allowing both languages to remain active and accessible, and providing an alternative means to convey meaning. The type of code switching employed by multilingual individuals includes intra-sentential switching, inter-sentential switching, situational switching, and metaphorical switching. The factors influencing code switching include the speaker, interlocutors, changes in the situation, and changes in the topic.
How does working memory affect decision making?4 answersWorking memory plays a crucial role in decision-making processes. It allows for the temporary storage and manipulation of information needed for goal-directed behavior. The limitations of working memory, such as its capacity and temporal constraints, can impact the accuracy of decision-making. The degradation of information over time in working memory can lead to less accurate decisions. Different strategies for storing information in working memory, such as computing the decision variable immediately or storing multiple values, can also affect decision-making. Working memory limitations can constrain the fidelity of a continuous decision variable, with the degradation of the decision variable depending on the strategy used to form it. These findings provide important insights into how the brain computes and maintains temporally dynamic decision variables.
What is switching cost?4 answersSwitching cost refers to the costs associated with changing from one option to another. It can be seen in various contexts such as reinforcement learning, consumer behavior, and language control. In reinforcement learning, switching costs capture the costs of changing policies and are considered alongside losses or rewards. In consumer behavior, switching costs can be both financial and non-financial, and they can affect the decision to switch from one supplier or retailer to another. In the context of bilingualism, switching costs are observed when there is a delay in performing a task due to a switch in language. The presence of switching costs can have different effects on market competition, depending on the initial level of competition.
How does working memory affect the ability to make decisions?5 answersWorking memory plays a crucial role in decision-making by allowing individuals to monitor and transform information while executing complex cognitive tasks. It helps in distinguishing between relevant and irrelevant information, maintaining task goals, and selectively attending to high-value information while inhibiting low-value or irrelevant information. Age-related differences in the strategic control of attention have been observed, with older adults showing deficits in attentional selection and impaired inhibitory control. Working memory capacity (WMC) has been found to support performance in selective encoding tasks, with individuals having greater WMC being better able to maintain activation of task-relevant information while inhibiting distracting interference. Working memory is also related to the ability to focus attention, as when working memory is occupied, the brain struggles to filter out distracting stimuli. Overall, working memory is essential for efficient decision-making by allowing individuals to prioritize and process relevant information while inhibiting distractions.
Code-switching between Filipino and English affect memory recall in a bilingual Filipino-speaking population?3 answersCode-switching between Filipino and English can have an impact on memory recall in a bilingual Filipino-speaking population. Research conducted by Lim et al. found that code-switching behavior, which mixes English and Filipino languages, is commonly observed in Filipino news broadcasts. This suggests that individuals who frequently code-switch between Filipino and English may experience challenges in memory recall due to the cognitive demands of switching between languages. Additionally, Mangila's study on bilingual Filipino teachers revealed that code-switching was primarily used for instructional purposes in English language classrooms. This implies that code-switching may be used as a pedagogical tool to facilitate understanding and acquisition of content. Therefore, it can be inferred that code-switching between Filipino and English may have both positive and negative effects on memory recall in a bilingual Filipino-speaking population, depending on the context and purpose of the code-switching.