Working memory (WM) is a limited-capacity mechanism that temporarily stores information in the mind and manipulates it when it is no longer perceptually present (Cowan, 2008). WM abilities have been associated with many significant facets of daily living, ranging from academic success to language learning. In the area of bilingualism, bilingual speakers have been observed to be cognitively superior to monolinguals in terms of cognitive flexibility, inhibition and WM (see for example Bialystok et al., 2006).
To control both languages effectively, bilinguals constantly process the language they are focusing on while disregarding the non-target language that is also active in their minds. This intentional and controlled cognitive effort required for language management finally results in bilingual advantages in working memory.
The linguistic automatisation hypothesis (Vejnovic et al., 2010) proposes that individuals who master a second language have better working memory. Higher second language (L2) proficiency allows for more processing automatisation in that language, which lowers the costs associated with cognitive processing. Ullman (2015) suggested that due to bilinguals’ increased L2 automatisation, L2 experts employ procedural memory (that is, unconscious memory to automatically execute cognitive and motor skills), which is also used by native speakers; while L2 beginners depend on declarative memory (that is, conscious memory to intentionally collect concepts and factual information).
As a consequence of this processing efficiency, fewer cognitive resources are employed while a larger proportion of the cognitive resources become accessible, which might lead adept L2 speakers to exhibit superior WM performance. Moreover, WM performance is related to the length of bilingual experience measured by the age of L2 acquisition. Early bilinguals experience a longer and more rigorous quantity of practice managing the two languages compared with late bilinguals (Kovelman et al., 2008). As a result, this longer-lasting experience with dual language management leads to better WM skills.
