Evidence from the Triple Frontier Area on differential cognitive associations of multilingualism: Selective attention and visual search slopes

Abstract

Aims and Objectives:

The present study aimed to explore the associations between cognitive functioning, mainly selective attention, inhibition, and visual search slopes, and variations in the multilingual experience.

Methodology:

Simon and Visual Search tasks were employed on a multilingual sample from the Triple Frontier Area consisting of 78 children of the Arabic community, with a mean age of 9.6 years.

Data and Analysis:

Generalized linear model (GzLM) models indicated faster accuracy during visual search among multilinguals with a higher frequency of reading and interacting within their communities in L2. The models controlled for age, socioeconomic status (SES), intelligence, and gaming frequency. In addition, a GzLM model indicated a higher ability to adapt to increasing levels of difficulty among multilinguals with higher comprehension in L3.

Conclusion:

The multilingual experience was related to enhanced functioning regarding selective attention and monitoring. Cognitive functioning was modulated by the variability of the multilingual experience.

Originality:

A novel method of assessing visual search slopes and a Portuguese-translated version of the Language and Social Background Questionnaire (LSBQ) were presented. Hypotheses from Green, Abutalebi, and Bialystok were tested. An ethnic minority multilingual sample from the Triple Frontier Area was obtained.

Significance:

The present study allows researchers from Portuguese-speaking countries to further study multilingualism under a unified questionnaire and lays the ground for future studies on visual search slopes and differential effects of aspects of multilingual experience.