Demographic and EEG data collected from 129 adult multilinguals in Norway (Norwegian L1), across a wide range of ages (18-82 years). Demographics included cognitive, social, language, and general health (physical activity and diet) information. EEG included resting state and task (flanker) data.Please consult the README.txt file for more information regarding this dataset.To download the full dataset: We recommend using the "Full dataset" tags given that the present dataset is larger than the max downloadable size for TROLLing. By selecting all files tagged "Full dataset - part 1", you will get the maximum number of files available in a single download. Then select all files tagged "Full dataset - part 2" for the rest. Abstract (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121312): This study investigates how individual multilingual engagement modulates brain oscillatory activity and cognitive control across the lifespan, using both resting-state and task-based EEG with a Flanker task. We assessed whether degree of multilingual engagement moderates age-related changes in theta and alpha power and examined how these changes impact task-specific neural dynamics and behavioral performance. Higher degree of multilingual engagement was associated with weaker negative correlations between increasing age and resting-state theta and alpha power. Our analyses of task-based data revealed that older participants with higher degree of multilingual engagement exhibited a smaller Flanker congruency effect (CE) and less reliance on alpha suppression. These patterns may show more efficient interference suppression in this group. In contrast, older adults with lower multilingual engagement demonstrated larger CE and greater alpha suppression, reflecting potentially less efficient neural recruitment. Notably, our findings indicate that effects of higher degree of multilingual engagement extend beyond resting-state dynamics. Specifically, they also impact recruitment patterns in response to cognitive control demands across the lifespan supporting the notion of maintenance of cognitive control mechanisms with increasing age. Interestingly, the hypothesized link between resting-state and task-based power was not observed, suggesting a more complex nature of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between baseline and task-specific activity. By examining resting-state and task-based activity in cognitive control (and potential links between them), this study adds to the growing body of evidence on multilingualism as a lifestyle factor that can contribute to healthier cognitive aging through neurocognitive adaptations. Abstract (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.04.009): Multilingualism has been demonstrated to lead to a more favorable trajectory of neurocognitive aging, yet our understanding of its effect on neurocognition across the lifespan remains limited. We collected resting state EEG recordings from a sample of multilingual individuals across a wide age range. Additionally, we obtained data on participant multilingual language use patterns alongside other known lifestyle enrichment factors. Language experience was operationalized via a modified multilingual diversity (MLD) score. Generalized additive modeling was employed to examine the effects and interactions of age and MLD on resting state oscillatory power and coherence. The data suggest an independent modulatory effect of individualized multilingual engagement on age-related differences in whole brain resting state power across alpha and theta bands, and an interaction between age and MLD on resting state coherence in alpha, theta, and low beta. These results provide evidence of multilingual engagement as an independent correlational factor related to differences in resting state EEG power, consistent with the claim that multilingualism can serve as a protective factor in neurocognitive aging.
Elin, K., Gallo, F., Gabrielsen, A., Voits, T., Rothman, J., & DeLuca, V. (2025). Flanking age: Multilingualism and its role in shaping cognitive decline and neural dynamics. NeuroImage, 317, 121312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2025.121312
Voits, T., DeLuca, V., Hao, J., Elin, K., Abutalebi, J., Duñabeitia, J. A., Berglund, G., Gabrielsen, A., Rook, J., Thomsen, H., Waagen, P., & Rothman, J. (2024). Degree of multilingual engagement modulates resting state oscillatory activity across the lifespan. Neurobiology of Aging, 140, 70–80. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.04.009
AcqVA Aurora center, UiT the Arctic University of Norway)