Exploring attention in the bilingualism continuum: A resting-state functional connectivity study

Abstract

This study explores the effects of bilingualism on the subcomponents of attention using resting-state functional connectivity analysis (rsFC). Resting-state functional connectivity studies have established stronger within and between network connectivity for categorically defined bilinguals – based on L2 variables. In this study, L2 AoA, L2 exposure, and L2 proficiency were examined along a continuum, instead of dichotomizing them. 20 seed regions centering on the three subcomponents of attention were pre-selected. First, a stronger rsFC for the seeds in alerting and orienting network is positively associated with the behavioral performance; this was not true for the seeds in the executive control network. Second, different levels of bilingualism have distinct patterns of rsFC for the subcomponents of attention after controlling for age and cognitive reserve variables. The impact of objective measures of bilingualism, i.e., L2 task proficiency, modulates all three attention networks. While the subjective measures such as L2 AOA modulates specific attention network. Thus, language performance in contrast to self-reported information, as a measure of bilingualism, has a greater potential to tap into the role of bilingualism in attentional processes.