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Structural and Functional MRI Insights into Bilingualism & Cognition in Aging

Poster Session F - Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 8:00 – 10:00 am PDT, Fairview/Kitsilano Ballroom

Emma Richard¹ (), Imola MacPhee¹, Shanna Kousaie², John A.E. Anderson¹; ¹Carleton University, ²University of Ottawa

As the global population ages, the prevalence of dementia and age-related cognitive decline rises. Understanding the neural mechanisms that contribute to cognition is therefore increasingly important. Previous research has examined the role of white matter in relation to structural and functional brain regions, often considering these domains separately. Much of this work has focused on entire white matter tracts; however, not all fibers in a white matter bundle are necessarily relevant for a particular cognitive function. This research investigates whether sub-bundles of white matter tracts provide a more robust measure of the relationship between white matter organization and cognition in younger and older adults. Additionally, it examines how bilingual experience may enhance white matter tract properties, potentially supporting more efficient neural communication. Fifty participants (26 younger adults aged 18–30 and 24 older adults aged 60+) completed three sessions involving behavioural, language, and MRI assessments. Bilingual experience was measured using the Language and Social Background Questionnaire and a Verbal Fluency Ratio derived from the Bilingual Aphasia Test. Cognition was measured with the arrow Flanker task performed during fMRI scanning. Using FSub-Extractor, we identified functional sub-bundles connecting task-related regions of interest. Multivariate analyses will be conducted to examine relationships among white matter integrity, bilingual experience, and behavioral performance. By linking white matter microstructure to both structural and functional measures, this work aims to advance our understanding of the neural pathways that support cognitive function across the adult lifespan.

Topic Area: LANGUAGE: Development & aging