Modelos teóricos del procesamiento léxico bilingüe: una revisión crítica desde la perspectiva de la psicología cognitiva

Leticia Sarli; Nadia Justel

doi:10.24265/liberabit.2026.v32n1.1208

Authors

Leticia Sarli Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias Cognitivas (LINC), Centro de Investigación en Neurociencia y Neuropsicología (CINN), Universidad de Palermo, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5237-4704
Nadia Justel Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias Cognitivas (LINC), Centro de Investigación en Neurociencia y Neuropsicología (CINN), Universidad de Palermo, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0145-3357

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24265/liberabit.2026.v32n1.1208

Keywords:

bilingualism, lexical processing, cognitive models, multimodality, linguistic behavior

Abstract

Background: The everyday use of two or more languages (bilingualism) is a highly complex phenomenon, as it involves changes in brain structure, behaviour, and cognition. Since it is not a homogenous category, it manifests itself on a spectrum of experiences determined by individual factors, such as first (L1) and second language (L2) age of acquisition, and contextual factors, such as the environments in which L1 and L2 are used. State of the art: The aim of this paper is to critically review theoretical models in bilingual individuals, focusing on the differences between auditory and visual modalities. The RHM, BIA+, BLINCS, and BIMOLA models are analyzed, each differing in their conceptualization of lexical access and the interaction between L1 and L2. Conclusions: Although these models partially account for word recognition in bilinguals, they present significant limitations in that they do not integrate multimodality, interindividual variability, and sociocultural sensitivities. The need for more integrative models is emphasized ones that reflect the complexity of bilingualism as a multidimensional phenomenon, articulating diverse linguistic experiences with cognitive functioning.

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Author Biographies

Leticia Sarli, Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias Cognitivas (LINC), Centro de Investigación en Neurociencia y Neuropsicología (CINN), Universidad de Palermo, Argentina.

Doctora en Neurociencia. Investigadora posdoctoral en la Universidad de Palermo. Su interes en investigación se enfoca en el impacto del aprendizaje de un segundo idioma en las funciones cognitivas de adultos sanos.
Nadia Justel, Laboratorio Interdisciplinario de Neurociencias Cognitivas (LINC), Centro de Investigación en Neurociencia y Neuropsicología (CINN), Universidad de Palermo, Argentina.

Doctora en Psicología y directora del LINC. Su interés en investigación son los temas relacionados a la modulación de las funciones cognitivas a través de intervenciones ambientales.

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