Psychology

Judith Großmann - Psychologist M.Sc.
Network Aging Research

Bergheimer Straße 20
69115 Heidelberg

Tel: +49 (0)6221 54 8128
grossmann(at)nar.uni-heidelberg.de

Fellows: Prof. Dr. Patric Meyer, Dr. Birgit Teichmann

Effects of language learning on cognition in healthy older adults

In comparison to monolinguals bilinguals show better performances in executive functions, an umbrella term for abilities such as planning or inhibition of actions. Some studies even point to a four to five year delay in diagnosis of a dementia in bilinguals. However, it is not clear whether these effects are due to bilingualism or to other influences such as immigration or education, because in most studies only associations have been considered.

This question can be addressed by intervention studies, which compare a condition before and after an intervention – such as learning of a language. Although native-like language performance may not be achieved with this approach, it may provide more information regarding the effects of bilingualism on cognition. At the same time, this approach can help investigate whether language learning has the ability to improve cognitive functioning in the elderly similarly to cognitive training.

Therefore, my dissertation will investigate the effects of language learning on gnition in healthy older adults.

Vita