ERP differences between monolinguals and bilinguals: The role of linguistic distance

Abstract A growing body of research suggests that bilingualism may afford benefits to certain aspects cognitive functioning. Inconsistent findings arise because methodological differences within and across studies. One limitation is studies often compare linguistically similar languages. The present study recorded brain activity (event-related potentials; ERPs) while English monolinguals, English–French bilinguals, Arabic–English bilinguals completed an n-back task a delayed matching-to-sample task. Group ERP were observed in the absence behavioral differences. In task, monolinguals exhibited smaller N2 amplitude compared both bilingual groups, P3b bilinguals. n-back, displayed larger amplitudes than did not differ between either These results suggest conflicting be due part linguistic distance languages under study.