Second Study, Bigger Impact: The Role of Language in Cognitive Engagement.

I’m excited to share that my second research paper has officially been accepted for publication. After the experience of my first study, which explored how counting in Mandarin could influence pain perception during exercise, I knew I wanted to keep asking questions that connect science with everyday life.

This time, my focus shifted slightly. Instead of looking at how language affects pain, I wanted to understand something more personal: which languages people actually prefer to engage with when doing cognitively demanding tasks.

The idea came from a key challenge I encountered during my first study. While asking participants to count in Mandarin, I noticed that reactions weren’t purely about difficulty or unfamiliarity. For some individuals, their willingness to engage with a language was shaped by personal or even political perspectives. That added an unexpected layer to the research and made me realize that language isn’t just a cognitive tool—it can carry meaning, identity, and bias.

So this second project set out to explore exactly that.

Participants were given options between different languages and asked which they would choose to use while performing tasks. The goal wasn’t just to measure preference on the surface but to better understand how familiarity, interest, and personal attitudes influence engagement.

What I found was fascinating. People didn’t always choose what was easiest. In many cases, they were drawn to languages they found interesting or meaningful, even if they weren’t fluent. At the same time, some preferences were clearly shaped by prior beliefs or associations, reinforcing the idea that cognitive engagement is deeply personal.

This has important implications. Whether in therapy, education, or everyday routines, giving people a sense of choice—especially something as personal as language—may influence how they experience effort, focus, and even discomfort. It also highlights the importance of meeting people where they are, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all approach.

Looking back, this second paper feels like a natural extension of the first. Together, they point toward a bigger idea: the mind plays a powerful role in shaping our physical and cognitive experiences, and small, intentional changes can make a difference.

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue this work and to share it more widely. This journey has been especially meaningful thanks to the guidance of Dr. Joseph Miller, a board-certified neurosurgeon affiliated with Erlanger Neurosurgery and Spine in Chattanooga, TN. Dr. Miller not only treated me following my brain injury—sustained in a horrific head-on car accident caused by a drunk driver—but also played a pivotal role in shaping this research. His expertise and support have left a lasting impact on both my recovery and my academic pursuits. Just like before, this project started with a simple question and a willingness to explore it locally. And once again, it’s turned into something much bigger than I expected.