The cognitive and brain health effects of bilingualism and multilingualism have been a vigorous area of research in recent years. Active use of multiple languages has been suggested to enhance executive functioning, but findings on such benefits are controversial. This project delves into the actual role of executive control processes in language use and thereby aims to renew the theoretical foundations of multilingualism and its neurocognition. The studies will focus both on healthy individuals and on persons with language difficulties caused by brain damage, i.e. aphasia, and they will utilize behavioural and brain imaging methods. The findings are expected to have practical consequences in evaluating the cognitive benefits of multilingualism but also for the interpretation and rehabilitation of symptoms of aphasia.

2026

2030