Beyond the bilingual advantage: The potential role of genes and environment on the development of cognitive control. (August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hernandez, Arturo E.; Greene, Maya R.; Vaughn, Kelly A.; Francis, David J.; Grigorenko, Elena L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurolinguistics. Volume 35(2015)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2015-08
• Subjects: Genetic and environmental factors -- Bilingualism -- Cognitive control; Neurolinguistics -- Periodicals; Language and languages -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Psycholinguistics -- Periodicals; Brain -- physiology -- Periodicals; Language -- physiology -- Periodicals; Neurolinguistique -- Périodiques; Langage et langues -- Aspect physiologique -- Périodiques; Psycholinguistique -- Périodiques; Language and languages -- Physiological aspects; Neurolinguistics; Psycholinguistics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroling.2015.04.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0911-6044

Abstract

Abstract: In recent years there has been considerable debate about the presence or absence of a bilingual advantage in tasks that involve cognitive control. Our previous work has established evidence of differences in brain activity between monolinguals and bilinguals in both word learning and in the avoidance of interference during a picture selection task. Recent models of cognitive control have highlighted the importance of a set of neural structures that may show differential tuning due to exposure to two languages. There is also evidence that genetic factors play a role in the availability of dopamine in neural structures involved in cognitive control. Thus, it is important to investigate whether there are interactions effects generating variability in language acquisition when attributed to genetic (e.g., characteristics of dopamine turnover) and environmental (e.g., exposure to two languages) factors. Here preliminary results from genotyping of a sample of bilingual and monolingual individuals are reported. They reveal different distributions in allele frequencies of the DRD2/ANKK1 taq1A polymorphism. These results bring up the possibility that bilinguals may exhibit additional flexibility due to differences in genetic characteristics relative to monolinguals. Future studies should consider genotype as a possible contributing factor to the development of cognitive control across individuals with different language learning histories. Highlights: Bilingualism and genetics both previously found to affect cognitive control. 31% of monolinguals and 69% of bilinguals in college student sample carry allele of interest. Holistic view of the effects of genes and environment on cognitive control is outlined.