Matthew Nguyen / Psychology / Faculty Mentor: Tracy Greer
Researchers in linguistics, neuroscience, and psychology have long debated the effects of multilingualism on cognition. While some studies have identified cognitive benefits in multilingual individuals, others have identified drawbacks, and still others have found no significant differences between multilinguals and monolinguals in terms of cognitive task performance. However, most of this research has focused primarily on “cold” (i.e., non-affective) cognitive processes, such as impulse control and cognitive flexibility, and has largely overlooked “hot” (i.e., affective) cognitive processes like risk-taking and perceptual bias. This study seeks to explore how multilingual and monolingual speakers respond differently to affectively charged and non-affectively charged stimuli and cognitive tasks. A total of 120 English-speaking monolingual and multilingual students, faculty, and staff from the University of Texas at Arlington will participate in three affective cognitive tasks and two non-affective cognitive tasks. The goal of this study is to contribute to the existing body of literature on multilingualism and non-affective cognition, while also providing insights into affective cognitive differences between monolinguals and multilinguals. Since our actions and decisions are often shaped by our emotions, and we frequently reason about the emotions of others, it is crucial to understand how cognitive processes we rely on daily, such as language, influence affective cognitive processes like emotion recognition and risk-taking.
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