HOW BILINGUALISM AFFECTS COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT IN YOUNG ADULTS
Keywords:
bilingualism, cognitive development, executive function, working memory, attention control, young adults, cognitive flexibilityAbstract
Bilingualism is a widespread linguistic phenomenon in today’s globalized society, particularly among young adults who use two or more languages in academic, social, and digital environments. This article investigates the influence of bilingualism on cognitive development, focusing on executive functions such as attention control, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and problem-solving ability. The study synthesizes findings from cognitive psychology and applied linguistics to determine whether bilingualism enhances or complicates mental processes. The results generally suggest that bilingual individuals demonstrate cognitive advantages, although certain linguistic trade-offs, such as slower lexical access, may occur.
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