Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task

Our modification of the Stroop Task allow us to examine cognitive control abilities, specifically in young adults as it can elicit differences between groups of bilinguals that are otherwise obscured. Setting up the Stroop Task is quick and simple. Our protocol increases the level of task difficulty, making it suitable for participants who's cognitive abilities are already at their peak.

Demonstrating the procedure will be Leah Gosselin and Gabrielle Manning who are Ph.D.students in my lab. To create the congruent items in language A, program six color terms written in capital letters in size 60 Times New Roman font for which the written word and the font color match. To create the incongruent items in language A, program six color terms written in capital letters in size 60 Times New Roman font for which the written word and the font color do not match.

To create the neutral items in language A, program six non-color and non-color associated terms written in capital letters in size 60 Times New Roman font. Present each word in each of the colors used in the previous two steps and repeat the previous three steps to create items in language B.Making sure not to use color terms that are cognates in the two languages. For two single language block creation, first create a language A block that includes 25 congruent, 25 incongruent, and 25 neutral items for a total of 75 items in the block, including five neutral practice items at the beginning of the block.

Program the experiment to present all of the items in randomized intermixed trials as illustrated and create a language B block with 25 congruent, 25 incongruent, and 25 neutral items for a total of 75 items in the block, including five neutral practice items at the beginning of the block. Then program the experiment to present all of the items in randomized intermixed trials, including a self-timed break between the two blocks and a self-timed break before the presentation of the mixed language block. To create one mixed language block, create a block which includes the 25 congruent, 25 incongruent, and 25 neutral items in language A and the 25 congruent, 25 incongruent, and 25 neutral items in language B for a total of 150 items in the block, including five neutral practice items at the beginning of the block.

Then program the experiment to present all of the items in randomized intermixed trials as demonstrated. To perform a Stroop Task analysis, test the participants in a sound attenuated testing room, seated comfortably in front of a computer screen with a button box in front of them. Explain to the participants that they will see words in different colors on the screen in front of them and that their task is to press the button that matches the color of the text that they see.

Emphasize that the participants should answer as quickly and accurately as possible, but that it is okay if they make a mistake. Allow time for the participants to ask questions. Participants sometimes try to use strategies to get all of the correct answers, but it is critical that they answer without taking time to think about their response.

Once the participants are comfortable with the task, leave the testing area and allow the participants to begin the experiment. At the end of the experiment, thank the participants for their time and debrief them about the task and its purpose. As observed in the figure in this analysis, each of the participant groups demonstrated both facilitation and inhibition effects.

However, using only the single language blocks, there was no reason to claim any differences between the simultaneous and early bilingual groups. However, when looking at the same effects in the mixed language block, each language group exhibited differing effects of facilitation and inhibition. It's important to present both languages individually and mixed together in order to assess cognitive control.

This is particularly important when testing young adult bilinguals. The Stroop Task can be combined with a non-language based task to assess whether any results obtained indicate enhanced language control or if the benefits are domain general. This twist to the Stroop Paradigm has not yet been used to explore new questions.

This paradigm will allow us to better investigate how individual differences effect cognitive control.