Contextual Adaptations in Language and Mind

Objective

In an increasingly multilingual world, understanding how diverse language experiences shape cognitive control is a pressing scientific and societal challenge. Although individual differences in language use—such as switching frequency, usage balance, and contextual support—have been linked to executive function (EF), these factors are rarely examined together in a unified empirical framework. The CALM (Cognitive Adaptation in a Language-Multiverse) project aims to address this gap by investigating how sociolinguistic environments modulate EF in bilinguals through an integrated behavioral and neurophysiological approach. Specifically, CALM will examine bilinguals in two distinct linguistic contexts (the UK and Singapore), using the AX-CPT paradigm combined with EEG to probe the temporal dynamics of proactive and reactive control. The study will analyze both event-related potentials and neural oscillations, while treating bilingual language experience as a continuous variable to uncover nuanced, experience-based adaptations. The expected outcomes include identifying distinct behavioral and neural signatures linked to bi/multilingual engagement and clarifying how particular language use patterns shape EF adaptations. These findings will advance experience-based models of bilingual cognition and help resolve inconsistencies in previous research. CALM will also offer high-level interdisciplinary training in experimental methods, advanced EEG analysis, and international research dissemination. Its originality lies in transcending traditional binary group designs to capture the real-world complexity of multilingual experience, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive and ecologically grounded cognitive neuroscience.