Melissa Torreblanca, Joy Gendy, Dora Phillips, & Dr. Susan Beers
Previous research has shown an executive function advantage for bilingual populations, indicating that bilingual individuals possess higher working memory capacity than monolinguals. Recent findings, however, have suggested that this advantage may be due to socioeconomic status (SES), because tested bilingual populations tended to also have higher SES. If bilingualism produces higher working memory, other cognitive functions that draw upon this capacity, spatial and multitasking abilities, might also be enhanced. The purpose of this study was to examine potential differences between bilingual and monolingual samples in working memory, spatial ability, and multitasking, controlling for variables related to SES. One hundred four undergraduate students participated in this study. During the first part of the study, information about participants’ socioeconomic status and language abilities was collected. Based on a language score derived from participants’ responses, participants were classified as either Monolingual (N = 46) or Bilingual (N = 58). Volunteers were then assigned to complete two working memory tasks (Reading and Symmetry Span), followed by the Perspective Taking/Spatial Orientation Test (PTSOT), measuring participants’ spatial awareness. The Multitasking Ability Test (MTAT) was then administered. Correlational analysis found bilingualism was not related to reading span, symmetry span, spatial ability, or multitasking. In contrast, income predicted multitasking ability (r =-.172) and reading span (r = .214). Income also predicted bilingualism (r = -.457) where lower incomes were associated with a higher degree of bilingualism. Other components of SES (education and professionalism) bore no relationship to cognitive measures. Spatial orientation predicted both measures of working memory, and the two span measures were associated. These results results suggest that an underlying third variable, SES, is responsible for previously found bilingual advantages. A particular component of SES, income, is the factor that predicts working memory. Lower levels of income could lead to impoverished environments, poor nutrition, or a lack of stimulation; resulting in lower working memory capacity. These findings also suggest that bilingual populations are different from one another; previous samples had higher SES levels while our sample had lower SES levels. Future studies should further explore demographic information to clarify the effects of bilingualism, income, education, and professionalism.