We tested how the bilingual processing system adapts to high attentional processing loads, using a dual selective attention task. We also tested how this adaptation changes with maturation, by comparing the performance of monolingual and bilingual children and adults. Results showed equivalent performance on aspects of the dual attention task (auditory comprehension and visual task accuracy) for monolinguals and bilinguals in both age groups. Reaction times from the visual task however revealed differences between groups, with bilingual children's responses significantly slower relative to monolingual children under high processing load, but the bilingual adults' performance equivalent to their monolingual counterparts. The results suggest that the adaptation of bilingual selective attention changes with maturation: high attentional processing demands lead to economising of the available attentional capacity and task prioritisation in children, but these effects recede as the attentional system fully matures, resulting in consistent optimal performance across elements of multiple tasks in bilinguals.

中文翻译：

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双语选择性注意的灵活功能适应


我们使用双重选择性注意任务测试了双语处理系统如何适应高注意力处理负载。我们还通过比较单语和双语儿童和成人的表现，测试了这种适应如何随着成熟而变化。结果显示，两个年龄段的单语者和双语者在双重注意力任务（听觉理解和视觉任务准确性）方面的表现相当。然而，视觉任务的反应时间揭示了各组之间的差异，在高处理负荷下，双语儿童的反应明显慢于单语儿童，但双语成人的表现与单语儿童相当。结果表明，双语选择性注意力的适应随着成熟而变化：高注意力处理需求导致儿童可用注意力能力和任务优先顺序的节约，但随着注意力系统完全成熟，这些影响会消退，从而导致各个元素保持一致的最佳表现双语者的多项任务。