Bilingualism modulates neural efficiency at rest through alpha reactivity. (10th February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calvo, Noelia; Grundy, John G.; Bialystok, Ellen
• Is Part Of: Neuropsychologia. Number 180(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02-10
• Subjects: Bilingualism -- Neural efficiency -- EEG resting State -- Reactivity -- Coherence -- Attention; Neuropsychology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Neuropsychologie -- Périodiques; Neuropsychology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2023.108486
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0028-3932

Abstract

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate how resting state EEG rhythms reflect attentional processes and bilingual experience. We compared alpha and beta rhythms for monolingual and bilingual young adults in eyes open and eyes closed conditions using EEG measures of frequency power, reactivity, and coherence. Power shows the amount of brain activity at a given frequency band; reactivity indexes the desynchronization of neuronal activity when individuals open their eyes at rest; and coherence indicates the brain regions that have correlated activity. The results showed that bilinguals had similar alpha power as monolinguals in both resting conditions but less alpha reactivity across the whole scalp. There was also more focused activation for bilinguals expressed as more coherence in posterior electrodes, particularly when eyes were opened to direct attention. For beta, there were no group differences in power or reactivity, but there was higher coherence for monolinguals than bilinguals, a pattern consistent with previous literature showing that beta frequency was related to language learning and native language proficiency. These results are in line with a neural efficiency theory and suggest that bilinguals have a more efficient brain for attentional mechanisms than monolinguals at rest. Highlights: The neural efficiency theory was studied in bilinguals and monolinguals. Bilinguals showed less alpha reactivity across the whole scalp than monolinguals. Bilinguals showed increased connectivity in posterior electrodes. Overall bilinguals showed decreased but more focused brain activity.