Given this statement/hypothesis:

  ...it might be that people with better executive control are more
  likely to persist with computer programming. If the latter is 
  true, one way to help people learn computer programming might 
  be to teach them a foreign language first.

It might be possible or more straightforward to study the connection between learning/using a non-native language and expressing a solution to some problem programmatically by measuring brainwaves and active areas the cerebral cortex while performing these activities. It seems like this would be step 1, which would then be backed up with behavioral studies such the on in the OP.

Can someone with a neuro background comment on this?

[Edit: formatting]