Language dominance effects on verbal list memory in older Spanish-English bilinguals.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The present study characterized how language dominance and language of testing affect word list learning in older bilinguals, using picture naming in the two languages as a continuous objective measure of bilingual proficiency level. No previous study examined language dominance effects on list learning in older bilinguals or provided detailed information about language dominance effects over multiple learning trials, even though these measures provide critical diagnostic information.

Method

Forty older Spanish-English bilinguals were tested on two 10-word lists in each language, with two learning trials for each list, and with language of testing order counterbalanced between participants.

Results

Bilinguals recalled fewer words in both primacy and recency

SUBMITTER: Gavino MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12758603 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature