Bilingualism and numerical cognition

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between bilingualism and numerical cognition, more specifically, the way English-Portuguese bilinguals solve simple mathematical problems when these are presented in different formats (digits, English, and Portuguese) and whether their language history background has any effect on such behavior. The main results suggest that bilinguals are faster and more accurate in solving mathematical problems presented in digit format and in solving those problems presented in the written format when the language of the stimuli was the one in which they learned basic arithmetic. Also, the participants’ language background experience did not have any significance in their task performance.