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Published on: February 26, 2020
Bilingualism and naming: implications for cognitive assessment.
Ellen Bialystok1, Fergus I M Craik
1Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ellenb@yorku.ca
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society : JINS
|February 9, 2007
Summary
Bilingualism affects older adults' naming test performance, with language proficiency being key. Cognitive status assessments must account for bilingualism's impact on picture naming abilities.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience of Language
- Aging Studies
Background:
- Bilingualism's influence on cognitive functions in aging populations is a growing area of research.
- Naming tests are frequently used to assess cognitive status in older adults.
- Previous research has explored how bilingualism impacts various cognitive tasks.
Discussion:
- The commentary largely supports Gollan et al.'s findings on bilingualism and naming performance in older adults.
- It highlights that proficiency in both languages is a critical factor in picture naming.
- Limitations in the experimental design of the original study are also noted.
Key Insights:
- Older bilingual adults' ability to name pictures is directly related to their proficiency in each language.
- Cognitive status inferences from naming performance require careful consideration of bilingualism.
- Language proficiency acts as a moderator in the relationship between bilingualism and naming accuracy.
Outlook:
- Further research should refine experimental designs to better isolate the effects of bilingualism on cognitive assessments.
- Investigating the neural underpinnings of bilingual naming in aging populations is warranted.
- Developing more nuanced cognitive assessment tools for bilingual older adults is essential.
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