Exploring Bilingual Benefits: Verbal and Nonverbal Information Updating in Working Memory

Abstract

Objectives: The present study aimed to confirm the cognitive advantages of bilingualism specifically in the domain of working memory updating. Methods: A total of sixty adults (aged 20 to 26) participated in the study, divided into three groups based on bilingual status: Bilingual-similar (n = 20), Bilingual-Mongolian weighted (n = 20), and Monolingual (n = 20). Participants completed working memory update tasks involving verbal or nonverbal stimuli. Information updated in working memory could be derived from perceptual input or long-term memory. Results: Bilingual advantages in working memory updating was found in both verbal and nonverbal task. The advantages in working memory updating depending on stimuli (verbal or nonverbal) exhibited similar patterns. However, the patterns of bilingual advantages varied depending on the source of information (perceptual input or long-term memory). While both bilingual groups showed advantages when the information source was perceptual input, only the Bilingual-similar group showed advantages when the source was long-term memory. Conclusion: The study provides further empirical support for the cognitive benefits associated with bilingualism, particularly in the realm of working memory updating. The current findings underscore the notion that bilinguals optimize domain-general cognitive control. Further research is needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of information management in bilingual individuals across different information resources.