Mixed language training enhances proactive language control in bilingual language production

ABSTRACT

The present study investigates the effect of mixed language training on the language control mechanism of bilingual language production. Two groups of unbalanced bilinguals were enrolled in pre- and post-tests using the picture naming task, but only the experimental group participated in an eight-day dual-language training session. Event-related potentials (ERPs) showed that, in the experimental group, the N2 mean magnitude was comparable between two languages in the pre-test, but it was larger in the native language (L1) than the second language (L2) in the post-test. In addition, the delta band power was similar between L1 and L2 in the pre-test, but L2 was associated with stronger power than L1 after training. In contrast, the control group showed no significant changes. These findings suggest that increased experience of language use in the dual-language context induces stronger proactive inhibitory control on L1, resulting in its lower activation.

KEYWORDS:

• Proactive control
• language production
• language trainning‌
• ERPs
• bilingualism

Acknowledgments

The first three authors contributed equally to the manuscript. The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [31871097], the National Key Basic Research Program of China [2014CB846102], the Interdisciplinary Research Funds of Beijing Normal University, and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [2017XTCX04].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 31871097], the National Key Basic Research Program of China [grant number 2014CB846102], the Interdisciplinary Research Funds of Beijing Normal University, and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities [grant number 2017XTCX04].