Previous research has shown that using foreign languages reduces cognitive biases. Here, we investigate whether this foreign-language effect extends to self-related cognition – in particular, the self-positivity bias, which refers to automatic association of oneself with positive information and has a facilitation role in maintaining mental health. We applied event-related brain potentials and oscillations in the implicit association test where Chinese–English bilinguals responded to category words (self vs. others) and attribute words (positive vs. negative) in either their native language Chinese or their foreign language English. In response to Chinese words, a self-positivity bias occurred, indexed by a positive D-score in reaction times as well as by smaller N200, larger P3-like/LPC responses, and lower alpha desynchronization when self words were associated with positive relative to negative traits. However, the bias was diminished in the English context. Overall, our findings provide important implications for language choices when self-protective mechanisms should be enhanced.

先前的研究表明，使用外语可以减少认知偏差。在这里，我们研究了这种外语效应是否延伸到自我相关认知——特别是自我积极性偏差，它指的是自我与积极信息的自动关联，对维持心理健康有促进作用。我们在内隐联想测试中应用了与事件相关的脑电势和振荡，其中中英双语者用他们的母语中文或外语英语回应类别词（自我与他人）和属性词（正面与负面）。在回应中文单词时，出现了自我积极性偏差，由积极的D索引-在反应时间以及较小的 N200、较大的 P3 样/LPC 响应和较低的 alpha 去同步化方面得分，当自我词与相对于负面特征相关时。然而，这种偏见在英语背景下有所减弱。总的来说，我们的研究结果为应该加强自我保护机制的语言选择提供了重要的启示。