Language Control for Bilinguals

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Diego

Disqualifiers: Language disorder, Neurological disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

360 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how bilingual individuals switch between languages during listening and speaking tasks. It focuses on those who speak two spoken languages or use both spoken and sign language. Participants will perform tasks such as naming pictures or classifying words, while researchers measure their accuracy and speed. Ideal participants are fluent in both Mandarin and English, or both American Sign Language (ASL) and English, without a stronger command of a third language or any language disorders. As an unphased study, this research provides a unique opportunity to enhance understanding of bilingual language processing.

What prior data suggests that this study's methods are safe for participants?

Research shows that the activities in the Language Control for Bilinguals study aim to understand how bilinguals manage language. These activities include tasks like sorting words or naming pictures, which resemble everyday language use and thinking exercises. Participants can easily handle these tasks.

Similar studies have reported no negative effects. The safety of these language tasks is supported by their non-invasive nature, as they involve no physical procedures or medications. This ensures a high level of safety for participants.

Overall, the activities in this study are expected to be safe, with minimal risk to participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Language Control for Bilinguals trial because it explores how different patterns of language use affect bilinguals' cognitive control and language processing. Unlike typical language learning approaches, which often emphasize single language immersion or balanced bilingualism, this trial examines specific scenarios like predictable versus unpredictable language production. By understanding these dynamics, the trial aims to uncover insights on how bilinguals manage language switching and comprehension in real-world settings. This could potentially inform new educational strategies or cognitive therapies for enhancing bilingual communication skills, setting it apart from standard language learning techniques.

What evidence suggests that this trial's methods could be effective for language control in bilinguals?

This trial will explore different language control strategies for bilinguals. Participants will join one of several treatment arms, such as predictable one-language production with both-language comprehension or unpredictable one-language production with both-language comprehension. Studies have shown that bilingual people use their brains to switch between languages. One study found that the ability to predict what comes next helps bilinguals switch languages more easily. Another study discovered that when bilinguals read sentences in different languages, the time it takes varies depending on their comfort level with each language. Research also shows that language control involves more than just selecting the right words; it includes other cognitive processes. Overall, these findings suggest that bilinguals use prediction and control to manage multiple languages effectively. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy bilingual individuals who either speak two languages (unimodal bilinguals) or speak one language and use sign language (bimodal bilinguals). Participants will be involved in various language tasks to assess their control over language comprehension and production.

Inclusion Criteria

I am fluent in both Mandarin and English, or ASL and English.

Exclusion Criteria

With language disorder or other neurological disorders

I am more proficient in a third language than in Mandarin/English or ASL/English.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Language Task Completion

Participants complete language tasks such as classifying words and naming pictures in different languages. Behavioral performance is assessed, including accuracy and reaction time.

6-8 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any changes in language control and performance after task completion

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Trial Overview The study tests how well these bilingual individuals can manage different languages during tasks like word classification or picture naming. It measures their accuracy and speed, comparing performance across spoken and signed languages.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Unpredictable one-language production & both-language comprehension Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Group II: Predictable one-language production & both-language comprehension Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Group III: Predictable both-language production & both-language comprehension Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Group IV: Single language comprehension and production Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Diego

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,215

Recruited

1,593,000+

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)

Collaborator

Trials

2,103

Recruited

2,760,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4543796/

Language control in bilingual language comprehension These results suggest that a language control mechanism is involved in bilingual reading, even though the control process is not driven by selection as in ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07226921?lastUpdPost=2020-03-16_

Study Details | NCT07226921 | Language Control Across ... This study aims to investigate how unimodal bilinguals who speak two languages and bimodal bilinguals who speak one language and sign another ...

3. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00426-025-02204-2

The influence of prediction on bilingual language production This study aims to investigate if predictions can influence subsequent language production in monolingual and bilingual situations.

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021992423000679

Language abilities, not cognitive control, predict ... The current study aimed to investigate whether LM in BiPWAs stems from a linguistic impairment, an impairment in cognitive control, or both.

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6328260/

Bilingualism reveals fundamental variation in language ... Cross-language influence from the unintended language has repeatedly been demonstrated to play a role in bilingual language comprehension (Kroll, Gullifer, & ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11081765/

Different Language Control Mechanisms in Comprehension ... The present study aims to investigate similarities versus differences in language control mechanisms across comprehension and production in-context.

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/397489929_The_influence_of_prediction_on_bilingual_language_production_evidence_from_semantic_classifier_congruency

The influence of prediction on bilingual language production This study aims to investigate if predictions can influence subsequent language production in monolingual and bilingual situations.

8. journalofcognition.org journalofcognition.org/articles/10.5334/joc.219

Assessing Proactive Language Control: Does Predictability ... We predicted that language switching would be facilitated during predictable language trials, indicative of proactive language control.

9. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/9/1217

Predictions about the Cognitive Consequences of ... Rather, many interesting predictions regarding bilingual control during speech production and comprehension were offered. Thus, when we conclude that the ...