The modulating role of memory load on language switching in sentence comprehension: evidence from eye movements

This study employed eye-tracking technology to investigate the effect of memory load on language switching during Chinese-English bilingual sentence comprehension. Using a within-subject experimental design with three levels of load (low, medium, high), two language types (Chinese, English), and two context types (non-switch, switch), the study collected behavioral measures and eye-tracking measures. The results revealed that under high load, switching from English (L2) to Chinese (L1) resulted in the longest reaction times and the highest costs, whereas switching into L2 consistently yielded switch benefits. Eye-tracking data indicated a dissociation between temporal and spatial dimensions at the sentence level, with switch effects demonstrating contrasting patterns. Similar processing patterns were observed at the target word across the early and late stages, with a significant increase in the effect in the latter. These findings suggest that language-switching costs are not fixed but adaptable, with cognitive load modulating the interplay between language and context, highlighting the intricate relationship between domain-general cognitive control and language-specific switching mechanisms.