The modulating role of memory load on language switching in sentence comprehension: evidence from eye movements

This study employed eye-tracking technology to investigate the effect of memory load on language switching during Chinese-English bilingual sentence comprehension. Using a within-subject experimental design with three levels of load (low, medium, high), two language types (Chinese, English), and two context types (non-switch, switch), the study collected behavioral measures and eye-tracking measures. The results revealed that under high loads, transitioning from L2 (English) to L1 (Chinese) resulted in the longest reaction times and highest costs, while transitioning from L1 to L2 did not exhibit comparable patterns. Eye-tracking data indicated a dissociation between temporal and spatial dimensions in sentence level, with switch costs demonstrating contrasting patterns. Similar processing patterns were observed at the target word during early and late stages, with a notable increase in effect in the latter. These findings suggest that language switching costs are not fixed, but are adaptable, with cognitive loads modulating the interplay between language and context, highlighting the intricate relationship between domain-general cognitive control and language-specific switching mechanisms.