Measuring the impact of bilingualism on executive functioning via inhibitory control abilities in autistic children
Date
2021-08-18Author
Montgomery, Lewis
Chondrogianni, Vicky
Fletcher-Watson, Sue
Rabagliati, Hugh
Sorace, Antonella
Davis, Rachael
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Montgomery, L., Chondrogianni, V., Fletcher-Watson, S., Rabagliati, H., Sorace, A. and Davis, R. (2021) 'Measuring the impact of bilingualism on executive functioning via inhibitory control abilities in autistic children', Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52, pp. 3560–3573.
Abstract
One factor that may influence how executive functions develop is exposure to more than one language in childhood. This study explored the impact of bilingualism on inhibitory control in autistic (n = 38) and non-autistic children (n = 51). Bilingualism was measured on a continuum of exposure to investigate the effects of language environment on two facets of inhibitory control. Behavioural control of motor impulses was modulated positively through increased bilingual exposure, irrespective of diagnostic status, but bilingual exposure did not significantly affect inhibition involving visual attention. The results partially support the hypothesis that bilingual exposure differentially affects components of inhibitory control and provides important evidence for families that bilingualism is not detrimental to their development.