The neural networks underpinning language control and domain-general executive functions overlap in bilinguals, but existing evidence is mainly correlative. Here, we present the first neurofunctional evidence for a transfer effect between (domain-general) inhibitory control and language control through training. We trained Chinese–English bilinguals for 8 days using a Simon task taxing the inhibitory control system, whilst an active control group was trained with a color judgment task that does not tax the inhibitory control system. All participants performed a language-switching task before and after training. It has been suggested that the activity of the left DLPFC was associated with domain-general top-down cognitive control (Macdonald et al. Science 288: 1835–1838, 2000) and bilingual language control (Wang et al. Neuroimage 35: 862–870, 2007). In addition, the dACC was closely related to the conflict detection (Abutalebi et al. Cereb Cortex 18:1496–1505, 2008). Last, the activity of the left caudate has been linked with lexical selection (Abutalebi et al. Cereb Cortex 18:1496–1505, 2008), especially the selection of the weak language (Abutalebi et al. Cortex 49: 905–911, 2013). Therefore, we focused on these three regions of interest (ROIs) where neural changes associated with transfer were expected to occur. The results showed a negative correlation between changes in activation levels in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and changes in the switch cost magnitude in the language-switching task in the training group but not in the control group, suggesting that the DLPFC plays a critical role in the transfer effect from domain-general executive functions to language control. However, there was no measurable effect in the anterior cingulate cortex or left caudate nucleus, suggesting that the inhibitory control training increased the neural efficiency for language production in bilinguals in terms of attention shifting and conflict resolution, but the training did not affect conflict detection and lexical selection. These findings showed how cognitive training evidence can help establish a causational link between the neural basis of domain-general executive functions and language control in bilinguals.

中文翻译：

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抑制控制训练揭示了双语者通用执行功能和语言转换的共同神经功能基础

支持语言控制和领域一般执行功能的神经网络在双语者中重叠，但现有证据主要是相关的。在这里，我们提出了第一个神经功能证据，证明（域一般）抑制控制和通过训练的语言控制之间的转移效应。我们使用对抑制控制系统征税的西蒙任务对中英双语者进行了为期 8 天的训练，而对主动对照组进行了不对抑制控制系统征税的颜色判断任务的训练。所有参与者在训练前后都进行了语言转换任务。有人提出，左侧 DLPFC 的活动与域一般自上而下的认知控制（Macdonald 等人 Science 288: 1835–1838, 2000）和双语语言控制（Wang 等人 Neuroimage 35:862– 870, 2007）。此外，dACC 与冲突检测密切相关（Abutalebi 等人 Cereb Cortex 18:1496–1505, 2008）。最后，左尾状核的活动与词汇选择有关 (Abutalebi et al. Cereb Cortex 18:1496–1505, 2008)，尤其是弱语言的选择 (Abutalebi et al. Cortex 49: 905–911, 2013) ）。因此，我们专注于这三个感兴趣的区域（ROI），预计会发生与转移相关的神经变化。结果显示，左背外侧前额叶皮层（DLPFC）激活水平的变化与训练组语言转换任务中转换成本幅度的变化呈负相关，而对照组则没有，表明 DLPFC 在从域一般执行功能到语言控制的转移效应中起着关键作用。然而，在前扣带皮层或左尾状核中没有可测量的效果，这表明抑制性控制训练提高了双语者在注意力转移和冲突解决方面的语言生产神经效率，但训练不影响冲突检测和词法选择。这些发现表明，认知训练证据如何帮助在双语者的领域一般执行功能的神经基础和语言控制之间建立因果关系。表明抑制性控制训练在注意力转移和冲突解决方面提高了双语者语言产生的神经效率，但训练不影响冲突检测和词汇选择。这些发现表明，认知训练证据如何帮助在双语者的领域一般执行功能的神经基础和语言控制之间建立因果关系。表明抑制性控制训练在注意力转移和冲突解决方面提高了双语者语言产生的神经效率，但训练不影响冲突检测和词汇选择。这些发现表明，认知训练证据如何帮助在双语者的领域一般执行功能的神经基础和语言控制之间建立因果关系。