Native and non-native language contexts differently modulate mood-driven electrodermal activity

Area of Science:

• Psycholinguistics
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Affective Science

Background:

• Bilinguals often exhibit reduced emotional sensitivity to their non-native (L2) language compared to their native (L1) language.
• The physiological underpinnings of how L1 and L2 contexts influence bilinguals' affective states, such as mood, remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the physiological differences in mood sensitivity between native (L1) and non-native (L2) language contexts in bilingual individuals.
• To determine if cognitive load associated with L2 processing affects emotional reactivity.

Main Methods:

• Polish-English bilinguals were induced into L1 or L2 mode by reading corresponding sentences.
• Participants watched positive and negative mood-inducing films while electrodermal activity (skin conductance responses and amplitudes) was measured.

Main Results:

• A greater number of skin conductance responses were observed in the negative mood condition within the L1 context only, indicating reduced sensitivity to negative mood changes in L2.
• Skin conductance amplitudes were generally higher in the L2 context compared to the L1 context.
• These results suggest decreased physiological sensitivity to mood shifts in the L2 relative to the L1 mode.

Conclusions:

• Bilinguals demonstrate decreased physiological sensitivity to mood changes in their L2, likely due to the increased cognitive engagement required for L2 processing.
• The findings highlight the interplay between language mode, cognitive load, and emotional regulation in bilinguals.