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Working memory and second language learning Graham Hitch, Meesha Warmington & Swathi Kandru
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Visuo-spatial Sketch Pad Phonological Loop Central Executive Baddeley & Hitch, 1974; Baddeley, 1986 Multi-component model of working memory
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Converging evidence for multiple components Multiple capacities Patterns of dual-task interference Individual differences Developmental differences Selective impairments Developmental disorders Neural bases
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Multiple capacities Digit span, Word span, Non-word repetition Pattern span, Corsi span Counting span, Reading span, Listening span, Operation span -Phonological loop -Visuo-spatial sketchpad -Central executive plus phonological loop
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Gathercole, Pickering, Ambridge & Wearing, 2004 Individual differences
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Baddeley (2000) Revised model of working memory
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(Chun et al, 2011)
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Enhanced cognitive abilities include Working memory Executive skills (e.g. Bialystock et al., 2006) Phonological STM (e..g. Papagno & Vallar, 1995) Word learning (e.g. Kaushanskaya & Marian, 2009) Issues Assessment of working memory and attention Relationships between executive skills, phonological STM and word learning in bilinguals (e.g. Bradley et al., 2013) Bilingual adults
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Present study Hindi – English sequential bilinguals vs English monolinguals Do we find the usual cognitive strengths? Are there differences in what predicts word learning in bilinguals?
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General cognitive ability Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI, Wechsler, 1999) Vocabulary Matrix reasoning Automated Working Memory Assessment (AWMA, Alloway, 2007) Phonological STM Digit recall Nonword recall Visuo-spatial STM Dot matrix Block recall Verbal executive Listening recall Backwards digits Visuo-spatial executive Odd one out Spatial recall
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External attention (perceptual selection) Flanker task (e.g. Fan et al, 2002) 2AFC RT to central target Congruent trial Incongruent trial RT (Incongruent-congruent)
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Internal attention (Inhibitory control) Stop signal RT task (Logan et al., 1984) simple RT present GO signal after variable foreperiod (1000, 3000, 5000 ms) on 25% of trials STOP signal occurs after the GO (SOA 200, 400, 600 ms) respond as rapidly as possible on GO trials while not responding on STOP trials Horse-race model Stop signal RT
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Internal attention (Inhibitory control) Stop signal RT task (Logan et al., 1984) Horse-race model
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WASI subtests MonolingualsBilingualsp Vocabulary64.7 (5.0)63.7 (6.6)ns Matrix Reasoning59.4 (3.6)61.7 (3.5)ns Participants English monolinguals(N=2014 malesage M=21:7) Hindi-English bilinguals (N=2010 malesage M=23:5)
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Self-reported language of bilinguals Self-rated language proficiency (scale 1-7) Hindi6.3 (1.0) English5.9 (0.6) Self-rated language usage (scale 1-5) Hindi family4.3 (1.2) friends3.5 (1.2) work1.4 (0.7) English family3.9 (1.0) friends4.4 (0.7) work4.8 (0.5)
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Automated Working Memory Assessment MonolingualsBilingualsp Verbal STM Forwards digits 91 (6)104 (11)** Nonword recall106 (16)119 (12)** Visuo-spatial STM Dot matrix102 (13)111 (8)* Block recall 94 (15)113 (16)** Verbal Executive Listening recall101 (11)107 (13)ns Backward digits 98 (15)114 (12)** Visuo-spatial Executive Odd one out104 (12)114 (11)** Spatial recall100 (13)114 (11)**
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Executive Tasks MonolingualsBilingualsp Stop Signal Go RT (ms)684 (138)524 (85)** SD RT (ms)211 (98)133 (29)** Accuracy (%)99 P(i) (%)68 (11)69 (12)ns SS RT (ms)284 (138)124 (85)** Flanker Congruent RT (ms)478 (148)515 (121) Incongruent RT (ms)537 (148)575 (132) Interference (ms) 57 60ns Accuracy (%)100
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8 low frequency English words Translated and recorded in Spanish by a native speaker Rated familiarity by native English speakers <2 (scale 1 – 5) Paired with 8 unfamiliar pictured objects Word learning: materials
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Word learning pocedure Familiarisation Present each of the 8 objects with its spoken name 3 blocks Learning Present each object, participant attempts to name, given corrective feedback Stop at criterion of 6 correct or if sooner 10 trials Test Name each object in turn, no feedback (Immediate) Repeat 1 day later (Delayed)
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Word learning MonolingualsBilingualsp Trials to criterion (out of 10)4.1 (1.9)2.7 (1.1)** Immediate object naming5.8 (1.3)6.8 (0.7)** Delayed object naming4.8 (1.4)6.1 (0.8)**
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Word learning
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Hierarchical regressions Monolinguals (N=20)Bilinguals (N=20) BSE BtβR2R2 B tβR2R2.47.73 Wasi vocab.00.01<1.00.02<1.00 Digit recall -.05.09<1-.13.04.022.8*.46 Nonword recall.01.07<1.04-.05.041.3-.27 Listening recall.23.092.3*.61.01.032.9*.58 Backward digits.03.05<1.15-.05.021.9-.38 Flanker -8603620<1-.06265014211.9.31 Stop signal.00 -1.1-.26.00 3.4*.56
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Conclusions Enhancement of selective components of attention in Hindi-English bilinguals Internal inhibitory control but not external perceptual selection (Replicated with further N=46 ptpts) Enhanced word learning in bilinguals Related to enhanced executive and verbal working memory skills Different from monolinguals?
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Thanks for listening Special thanks to Meesha Warmington and Swathi Kandru
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Correlations (N = 40 combined over language groups) WASI vocab Digit recall Nonword recall Listening recall Backward digits Stop signal FlankerWord learning Wasi vocab.04.16.17.00 -.25.11 Digit recall.38*.42**.51**-.39*.00.48** Nonword recall.34*.49**-.25-.18.27 Listening recall.48**-.15-.10.46** Backward digits -.45**-.13.45** Stop signal.00-.34* Flanker -.10
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Word learning
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