Exploring the relationship between bilingualism and cognitive flexibility

Abstract

Previous literature suggests that bilingual individuals may exhibit enhanced cognitive flexibility due to their frequent monitoring and switching between languages (Ward & Awani, 2024). However, evidence supporting this bilingual advantage remains inconsistent (Paap & Greenberg, 2013). The current study aims to investigate the cognitive advantages associated with bilingualism, particularly focusing on cognitive flexibility as measured by the Trail Making Test (TMT). The study aims to explore whether bilingual individuals experience enhanced cognitive flexibility compared to monolinguals and to examine the roles of the age of second language (L2) acquisition, L2 proficiency, and code-switching frequency in predicting cognitive flexibility scores among bilinguals. This study examined cognitive flexibility in both monolingual and bilingual Cape Breton University students. The results indicated that bilinguals demonstrated significantly greater cognitive flexibility compared to monolinguals. However, no significant correlations were found between cognitive flexibility and the predictor variables of age of acquisition, L2 proficiency, and code-switching frequency. Nonetheless, there were significant correlations among the predictors. All L2 proficiency categories were positively correlated to one another, L2 understanding was negatively correlated to age of acquisition, L2 understanding was positively correlated to code switching with family, and code-switching with family and friends was positively correlated. These findings support the presence of a bilingual advantage, contributing to the ongoing debate in bilingual literature. However, further research is needed to explore specific linguistic background factors that are predictive of cognitive flexibility.