Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42118849›Full record

ArticleCognitive science2026

ASL Proficiency Predicts Advanced Visual-Spatial Processing Independent of Age of Acquisition.

Melody F Schwenk, Lorna C Quandt

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Cognitive science, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Melody F SchwenkEducational Neuroscience, Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) Research Center, Gallaudet University.
Lorna C QuandtEducational Neuroscience, Visual Language and Visual Learning (VL2) Research Center, Gallaudet University.ORCID 0000-0002-0032-1918

Funding

American Sign Language and Spatial Cognition Skills: A Neurocognitive Study Using EEG and Standardized Neuropsychological AssessmentsF31DC022182 · NIDCD · GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY · PI SCHWENK, MELODY FAITH · 2024 to 2025
$91k
NIDCD NIH HHS 1F31DC022182-01NIDCD NIH HHS F31 DC022182NIH HHS 1F31DC022182-01Spencer Foundation
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

We examined the cognitive effects of American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency in visual-spatial reasoning, challenging interpretations of the traditional critical period hypothesis that early language acquisition primarily predicts cognitive outcomes across domains. We analyzed behavioral tasks in 40 participants with varying levels of ASL fluency and age of acquisition (AoA) using cluster analysis. We assessed participants using the Vandenberg-Kuse Mental Rotation Test (VKMRT), a block design (BD) task, and the ASL Comprehension Test (ASLCT). Our results show that ASL proficiency, not early AoA, best predicts performance on visual-spatial tasks, suggesting that sustained engagement with ASL may be associated with enhanced visual-spatial reasoning. Regression analyses showed that ASLCT scores significantly predicted block design scaled score (b = 0.19, p < .05), while AoA did not contribute significant variance (∆R

Indexed as

CognitionLanguage DevelopmentSign LanguageSpace PerceptionSpatial ProcessingVisual PerceptionAdolescentAdultComprehensionFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultASLCognitive assessmentCritical periodEmbodied cognitionNeuroplasticitySpatial cognition

Identifiers

PMID42118849
PMCPMC13251880

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.