Research Information System
JOURNAL OF COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY, 2025 (SSCI)
This study examined whether bilingualism affects PM performance and, if not, whether bilinguals' tendency to prioritize the ongoing task over the PM task may explain the lack of effect. Participants (59 Turkish-English bilinguals, 55 Turkish monolinguals) identified spatial locations of directional arrows under congruency manipulation and responded to rare PM cues. Focality was manipulated by varying the similarity of PM cue features to the ongoing task. Accuracy rates and reaction times in the ongoing task, PM task, and PM-related stimulus condition were analyzed using a 2 (Group: bilingual, monolingual) x 2 (Task: focal, non-focal) x 2 (Congruency: congruent, incongruent) mixed factorial design. Results showed similar PM accuracy for both groups, with no evidence that bilinguals prioritized the ongoing task. Notably, bilinguals had lower ongoing task costs in the non-focal condition and faster reaction time across all metrics, suggesting they managed strategic monitoring more efficiently, though other metrics offered no further support.