Aims:This study aimed to investigate how bilingual advantages in cognitive flexibility were modulated by language-use parameters (e.g., language switching experience) and psychological factors (e.g., acute stress).Design/methodology:Chinese-English unbalanced bilinguals with a high or low amount of language switching experience (HLS or LLS bilinguals) performed a cued color-shape switching task in stress-free condition (Experiment 1) or in acute stress condition induced by the Trier Social Stress Test (Experiment 2). Switching and mixing costs were calculated to denote two aspects of cognitive flexibility: transient and sustained switching abilities, respectively.Data and analysis:Differences in switching and mixing costs between HLS and LLS bilinguals were analyzed using repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). The predictive relationship between language switching experience and cognitive flexibility was examined using hierarchical regression models. The role of acute stress in the dynamics was tested by means of independent samples t-tests in a cross-analysis of Experiments 1 and 2.Findings/conclusions:HLS and LLS bilinguals showed similar switching and mixing costs in the stress-free condition, but in the acute stress condition, HLS bilinguals showed lower switching costs than LLS bilinguals. The result of cross-experimental analysis further revealed that higher switching costs were demanded in LLS bilinguals under acute stress. These findings suggest that language switching experience specifically influences transient switching ability under acute stress.Originality:This study was a first attempt to provide evidence that psychological stress may be a crucial determinant in exploring the theoretical implications of cognitive control in bilingualism.Significance:Our findings suggest that bilingual advantages in cognitive flexibility are conditional, shedding light on the ongoing debate about the ambiguous relationship between language experience and cognitive control in bilinguals.

中文翻译：

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语言转换经验和急性压力对双语认知灵活性优势的影响


目的：本研究旨在探讨语言使用参数（例如语言转换经验）和心理因素（例如急性压力）如何调节双语在认知灵活性方面的优势。设计/方法：中英不平衡双语者的高或少量语言转换经验（HLS 或 LLS 双语者）在无压力条件下（实验 1）或在特里尔社会压力测试诱发的急性压力条件下（实验 2）执行提示颜色形状转换任务。计算转换和混合成本以分别表示认知灵活性的两个方面：瞬时和持续转换能力。数据和分析：使用重复测量方差分析 (ANOVA) 分析 HLS 和 LLS 双语者之间转换和混合成本的差异。使用分层回归模型检查了语言转换体验和认知灵活性之间的预测关系。通过实验 1 和 2 交叉分析中的独立样本 t 检验，测试了急性压力在动力学中的作用。结果/结论：HLS 和 LLS 双语者在无压力条件下表现出相似的转换和混合成本，但在急性压力条件下，HLS 双语者的转换成本低于 LLS 双语者。交叉实验分析的结果进一步表明，LLS双语者在急性压力下需要更高的转换成本。这些发现表明，语言转换经历特别影响急性压力下的瞬时转换能力。 原创性：本研究首次尝试提供证据，证明心理压力可能是探索双语认知控制理论含义的关键决定因素。意义：我们的研究结果表明，双语在认知灵活性方面的优势是有条件的，这揭示了关于双语者语言体验与认知控制之间模糊关系的持续争论。