VISUOSPATIAL PROCESSING IN THE RESOLUTION OF THE CORSI BLOCK-TAPPING IN BILINGUAL AND MONOLINGUAL CHILDREN
Résumé
Several studies (Grosjean, 2019) have shown that bilingualism provides an advantage in executive
functions. Visuospatial Working Memory (vs WM), closely linked to executive functions, is a
component of working memory responsible for the temporary storage and manipulation of visual and
spatial information, including objects, shapes, and patterns. It also involves mental manipulation of
spatial information, such as the relative positions of objects in space, distances, and orientations. This
component plays a role in coordinating visual attention by holding information about objects or
locations that require temporary memory while filtering out visual distractions. The aim of this study is
to identify and compare vs WM information processing strategies and to highlight different cognitive
profiles between monolingual and bilingual children. The methodology of this research is situated
within an experimental framework using the Corsi Block-Tapping Test (Corsi, 1972), which
specifically assesses visuospatial working memory. The test comprises two conditions: direct spatial
memory and reverse (indirect) spatial memory. In these tasks, the participant needs to tap the blocks
that the experimenter show, in direct or indirect order. To gain a better understanding of the
characteristics of the presumed cognitive functioning in Corsi Block-Tapping Test success, this study
focused on analyzing the nature of errors in the "direct" and "indirect" conditions of the Corsi Block-
Tapping Test. Errors are categorized into three types: direction errors, location errors, and number
errors. This comprehensive error analysis aimed to uncover the specific cognitive processes and
strategies employed by participants in both conditions. It allowed for a deeper exploration of how
individuals approached visuospatial working memory tasks and provided insights into their cognitive
decision-making processes during the test.