Previous research suggests that bilingual language control requires domain-general cognitive control. Recent research suggests that exploration of individual differences is key for understanding the relationship between bilingual language control and cognitive control. The current study used multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) to examine within-subject patterns of fMRI activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) during bilingual language switching and non-linguistic task-switching. We hypothesized that bilinguals would have identifiable, within-subject patterns of DLPFC activity for both types of switching and that bilinguals and monolinguals would differ in patterns of DLPFC activity for task-switching. We were unable to identify patterns of DLPFC activity associated with bilingual language switching. Task-switching was related to patterns of left DLPFC activity for both bilinguals and monolinguals, and there were identifiable patterns of right DLPFC activity for the bilinguals only. These findings suggest that the DLPFC is not the key brain structure connecting bilingual language and task-switching.

先前的研究表明，双语控制需要一般领域的认知控制。最近的研究表明，探索个体差异是理解双语语言控制和认知控制之间关系的关键。目前的研究使用多体素模式分析 （MVPA） 来检查双语语言切换和非语言任务切换期间背外侧前额叶皮层 （DLPFC） 中 fMRI 活动的受试者内模式。我们假设双语者在两种类型的切换中都有可识别的受试者内 DLPFC 活动模式，并且双语者和单语者在任务切换的 DLPFC 活动模式上会有所不同。我们无法识别与双语切换相关的 DLPFC 活动模式。任务切换与双语和单语者的左侧 DLPFC 活动模式相关，并且只有双语者存在可识别的右侧 DLPFC 活动模式。这些发现表明 DLPFC 并不是连接双语和任务切换的关键大脑结构。