• Does working memory independen...

Treffer: Does working memory independently influence language development in bilingual children? A 30-year reflection.

Title:
Does working memory independently influence language development in bilingual children? A 30-year reflection.
Authors:
Ebert KD; Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 115 Shevlin Hall, 164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA. Electronic address: kebert@umn.edu.
Source:
Brain and language [Brain Lang] 2025 Oct; Vol. 269, pp. 105628. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jul 29.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Review
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 7506220 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1090-2155 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 0093934X NLM ISO Abbreviation: Brain Lang Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Publication: <2000- > : Amsterdam : Elsevier
Original Publication: New York, Academic Press.
MeSH Terms:
Multilingualism* , Memory, Short-Term*/physiology , Language Development*, Humans ; Child ; Language Development Disorders/physiopathology
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Grant Information:
R01 DC019613 United States DC NIDCD NIH HHS; R01 DC019895 United States DC NIDCD NIH HHS
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: Children; Cognition; Developmental language disorder; Executive function; Impairment
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250730 Date Completed: 20251003 Latest Revision: 20251227
Update Code:
20251227
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12320785
DOI:
10.1016/j.bandl.2025.105628
PMID:
40737739
Database:
MEDLINE

Weitere Informationen

In 1992, Harrington posited that working memory is a key constraint on the development of a second language in adults but noted that stronger evidence is needed to establish its independent influence on language. In this paper, I reflect on advances in the study of working memory in bilinguals over the intervening 30 years, focusing on bilingual children. I consider theoretical and methodological changes that avoid confounding language and working memory. Empirical work on the role of working memory in bilingual language development is reviewed, noting that much recent work on this topic considers how language could shape working memory, rather than vice versa. I also discuss evidence from bilingual children with developmental language disorder, a population whose language weaknesses have been partly attributed to working memory constraints. Unifying evidence across bilingual populations - including adults and children, and typical and atypical language learners -is important to continue the field's advancement.
(Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Declaration of competing interest The author declares that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.