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Abstract

In a recent article, Ellen Bialystok argued that bilingual experience enhances nonverbal cognition, that its effects are continuous rather than categorical, and that selective attention is the key mechanism underlying cognitive changes in bilinguals. In another recent article, Bialystok argued that bilingual experience modifies cognition by adapting an underlying attention system-one that is limited in resources but becomes more efficient through this adaptation. These claims are critically evaluated drawing on meta-analyses and new empirical tests. These analyses show that any observed advantages are small, inconsistent, and often disappear when accounting for publication bias. A final section describes three key factors that likely explain why bilingualism does not reliably enhance EF. First, dilution and ceiling effects suggest that bilingualism is one of many potential cognitive enhancers (e.g., education, music, mindfulness), making its unique contribution difficult to detect. Second, heritability studies indicate that EF is overwhelmingly genetic in origin, leaving little room for environmental factors such as bilingualism to drive meaningful improvements. Third, automaticity in bilingual language control suggests that proficient bilinguals rely on specialized, task-specific mechanisms rather than domain-general EF, reducing the likelihood of cognitive transfer. Together, these findings challenge the view that bilingualism provides broad cognitive benefits. While bilingualism offers numerous social and linguistic benefits, its impact on nonverbal cognition remains unsubstantiated.