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Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
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Working Memory01:24

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Working memory refers to a combination of components, including short-term memory and attention, that allow an individual to hold information temporarily as we perform cognitive tasks. It is an essential cognitive function that enables the execution of complex tasks such as problem-solving, comprehension, and reasoning. Unlike short-term memory, which simply involves the storage of information for a brief period, working memory involves the active manipulation and processing of this...
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Language Development01:22

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Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
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Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
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The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
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Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 13, 2025

Examining Bilingual Language Control Using the Stroop Task
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Does working memory independently influence language development in bilingual children? A 30-year reflection.

Kerry Danahy Ebert1

  • 1Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 115 Shevlin Hall, 164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA.

Brain and Language
|July 30, 2025
PubMed
Summary

Working memory, crucial for adult second language acquisition, is now being studied in bilingual children. Research explores how language influences working memory, not just the reverse, for a comprehensive understanding.

Keywords:
ChildrenCognitionDevelopmental language disorderExecutive functionImpairment

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Harrington (1992) proposed working memory as a constraint on adult second language acquisition, requiring further evidence.
  • Thirty years of research have advanced the study of working memory in bilinguals, particularly children.
  • Recent work increasingly examines language's influence on working memory, shifting focus from the original hypothesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advances in working memory research concerning bilingual language development over 30 years.
  • To examine theoretical and methodological shifts that disentangle language and working memory.
  • To discuss implications for bilingual children, including those with developmental language disorder.

Main Methods:

  • Review of empirical studies on working memory in bilingual language development.
  • Analysis of theoretical and methodological advancements in the field.
  • Examination of case studies involving bilingual children with developmental language disorder.

Main Results:

  • Significant progress in understanding the interplay between working memory and bilingualism.
  • Emerging evidence suggests language acquisition may shape working memory capacity.
  • Working memory constraints are implicated in language weaknesses of bilingual children with developmental language disorder.

Conclusions:

  • Continued research is needed to unify findings across diverse bilingual populations (children, adults, typical, and atypical learners).
  • A nuanced understanding requires considering bidirectional influences between language and working memory.
  • Working memory remains a critical area for investigating bilingual language development and disorders.