What Learning A Second Language Does To Your Brain

English has long been considered a “universal language.” However, there are roughly 6,500 languages spoken in the world. With the rise of globalization, it’s becoming increasingly clearer that knowing how to speak only one language can be something of a disadvantage. Essentially, those who have the ability to learn a new language should consider doing so – no matter how difficult it may seem.

Multilingualism is important for many reasons beyond communicating while on vacation – one such reason being the way it can affect the brain at any age. From young children to older adults, learning a second language can be beneficial to brain health, regardless of whether or not you use the language for professional or academic purposes. Here’s what learning a second language does to your brain, and why it’s such a highly recommended endeavor.

How does your brain change when learning a new language?
From a physical standpoint, learning a new language can bring about changes to both the size and function of certain areas of the brain, such as Broca’s area, the part of the brain involved in language production and located in the cortex area of the dominant frontal lobe. Another area of the brain that is changed by learning a new language is the hippocampus, which is a complex brain structure found deep in the temporal lobe. It plays a role in both learning and memory.

Neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to reorganize itself and form new neural connections, is also driven by learning a new language. When neuroplasticity is increased in the brain while learning a new language, new connections and pathways between neurons are formed. Essentially, the brain is remodeled to become far more efficient because it has a lot more pathways to choose from.

Does learning a second language affect your cognitive processing?
We all know how muscles become weak without proper and regular training. This is similar to how the brain works. When you stop actively learning new things and working out your brain, certain neural connections weaken over time. This can lead to diseases such as dementia, or more minor (though still detrimental) effects such as forgetfulness. Research has found that learning a new language helps cognition because of the aforementioned affect it has on building new neural pathways.

Because of the way learning a foreign language forces your brain to process information, your mind gets a workout in ways that it hasn’t since you were a child, first learning to speak and communicate in your native language. Certain cognitive processing skills that can benefit from learning a new language include decision-making, creativity, attention span and the ability to focus, and multitasking skills.

Does learning a second language improve memory?
There have been many studies surrounding the use of learning a new language to help boost memory performance, and the results are unanimous. One particular study looked at volunteers who spent 10 months taking a language course. At the end of the study, the participants were able to better remember acquaintances’ names. The study also found that people were able to better recall words and places after the 10-month course was completed.

A review published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience also examined the effect that learning a new language had on memory and cognitive abilities in older adults, finding that there was growth to the physical structure of the brain in areas directly related to memory.

The review looked at how older adults learning new languages could end up with sharper memories and found that not only did such an exercise facilitate better memory, it could also help stave off dementia-related diseases.

Other research has also backed up these results. Dementia-related diseases are basically driven by a shrinking brain, and since learning a new language has shown to stimulate parts of the brain leading to growth, it can help to combat such diseases.

What are the cognitive benefits of learning a second language at an early age?
While learning a second language is good for the brain at any age, starting early can sharpen and hone cognitive skills that children can take with them throughout their entire lifetimes. As children grow, their brains continuously develop and change, and if they are learning a second language during this growth and development phase, cognitive processes such as problem-solving, critical thinking, listening skills, concentration, and multitasking are all affected positively.

Moreover, children who learn new languages are also said to demonstrate better reading, writing, and math skills than their single-language peers. They also score higher on standardized tests than their peers.

Children are also more easily adept at learning new things because their brains are far more flexible. Research shows that children as young as six months can begin telling the difference between two languages just by cues such as intonation patterns. 

Is learning a new language different than learning any new skills or information?
While learning any new things is good for cognition and brain health, learning a new language is in a class of its own when it comes to having a fit and flexible brain with plenty of neuropathways. Research comparing medical students studying constantly to those simply taking a language class showed that the med students’ brains were relatively unchanged. That is a stark difference compared to the changes that occur when a person dives into learning a second language.

Learning a new language, especially at an older age, may seem like an impossible feat. But research has found that even if you don’t learn the language to fluency, the simple act of trying can help to sharpen your cognitive skills. For parents, starting your children early is beneficial for their brains – plus, it is much easier to learn a new language when you’re young!

 

Featured image by Leonardo Toshiro Okubo on Unsplash