Studies show that learning a language
increases the volume and density of gray matter, the volume of white matter, and brain connectivity. In older language learners, some studies show cognitive benefits beyond languages, such as for working memory.
Gray matter, named for its pinkish-gray color, is home to neural cell bodies, axon terminals, and dendrites, as well as all nerve synapses. This brain tissue is abundant in the cerebellum, cerebrum, and brain stem. It also forms a butterfly-shaped portion of the central spinal cord.
What is GRAY matter in the brain responsible for?
[6] The gray matter throughout the central nervous system allows
enables individuals to control movement, memory, and emotions. Different areas of the brain are responsible for various functions, and gray matter plays a significant role in all aspects of human life.
Is GRAY matter in the brain good or bad?
The gray matter changes occurred in the hippocampus, the part of the brain believed to be central to memory. It is “a structure important for healthy cognition across people's lifespan,” the study says, and is “centrally involved in many functions including spatial navigation, episodic memory and stress regulation.”
What reduces gray matter?
Cardio exercise showed to be effective in preserving the brain's gray matter, preventing the brain's shrinking that often comes with aging or neurodegenerative diseases. The data also hinted that exercise may delay cognitive aging and possibly dementia, even among older people over the age of 65.
What part of your brain helps you learn a new language?
Wernicke's area: Located in the cerebral cortex, this is the part of the brain involved in understanding written and spoken language.
How does learning a foreign language benefit the brain?
“Because the language centers in the brain are so flexible, learning a second language can
develop new areas of your mind and strengthen your brain's natural ability to focus, entertain multiple possibilities, and process information.
Can learning a language rewire your brain?
Researchers from Penn State University in the US have found that learning
a language will change the structure of your brain and make the network that pulls it all together more efficient - and the improvements can be experienced at any age. Every time you learn something new, you're strengthening your brain.
Does the brain change with learning?
Learning changes the physical structure of the brain. These structural changes alter the functional organization of the brain; in other words, learning organizes and reorganizes the brain. Different parts of the brain may be ready to learn at different times.
What part of the brain affects language?
In general,
the left hemisphere or side of the brain is responsible for language and speech. Because of this, it has been called the "dominant" hemisphere. The right hemisphere plays a large part in interpreting visual information and spatial processing.
How does the brain memorize things?
At their core, memories are stored as electrical and chemical signals in the brain. Nerve cells connect together in certain patterns, called synapses, and the act of remembering something is just your brain triggering these
synapses. ... Brain cells work together to make the brain as efficient as possible.
Having a second language can also help to prevent — or at least delay — cognitive decline. “There is a consistent finding that bilinguals are able to stave off symptoms of dementia for about four to six years compared to monolinguals,” says Grundy. And that’s pretty impressive considering the best medications we have can postpone the symptoms for only about a year or so.
If you’re thinking it’s too late, you’re probably wrong. We often think only children can learn languages with ease. It’s true that young children do more quickly learn whatever language they’re exposed to. But when it comes to adding on a new one, adults aren’t as at much of a disadvantage as you might think. Chung-Fat-Yim says it’s not so much the age at which you learn a new language as the way you learn it. If you practice a lot and immerse yourself in the language, you can see the benefits at any age, especially when you get older.
I hope this short and brave post showed you how important it is for you to learn a second or third language. Come and benefit from it with us, with Oxinity.
We are here for you! I am here for you. I am Oxinity.