Research Indicates Greater Gray Matter Volumes in Bilingual Brains, According to Study
In a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center, the effects of bilingualism on cognitive function have been explored, shedding light on the potential benefits of speaking multiple languages. The study compared three groups: Spanish-English bilinguals, American Sign Language (ASL)-English bilinguals, and English monolinguals.
Multiple studies have suggested that bilingual individuals may be more resilient to age-related cognitive decline, potentially delaying the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms by up to four years. This research provides further evidence to support this claim.
Contrary to common myths, children can distinguish between two languages before they can even speak, and adult learners can still experience increased grey matter and cognitive flexibility, even if they start later in life. The key to the brain changes observed in bilinguals seems to be the constant need to choose the appropriate language and suppress the other.
The Spanish-English bilinguals showed increased grey matter in key brain regions, particularly in regions related to short-term memory, task-switching, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. This is not surprising, as speaking multiple languages physically strengthens the brain's structure by increasing the density of grey matter, which consists mainly of neurons and synapses.
Interestingly, the ASL-English bilinguals did not show the same brain changes, suggesting that it's not just the size of a bilingual person's vocabulary that explains the effect but the cognitive demand of switching between two spoken languages. The ASL-English bilinguals, who could sign and speak at the same time, did not show the same enhancement, further emphasizing the importance of the cognitive demand of switching between two spoken languages.
The findings suggest that the daily mental juggling act of bilingualism may act like a form of cognitive strength training. Dr. Guinevere Eden, the study's lead researcher, stated that larger grey matter was observed in frontal and parietal regions in bilinguals compared to monolinguals. These areas are involved in executive control, such as reasoning, planning, and multitasking.
The benefits of bilingualism are lifelong and not limited to childhood learning. Just as physical training can strengthen the body, mental training can physically reshape the brain. This study provides a rare opportunity to isolate what aspect of bilingualism is actually changing the brain, offering valuable insights into the cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages.
Overall, bilingualism appears to be one of the most natural and accessible ways to engage in cognitive cross-training, contributing to a larger “cognitive reserve,” which helps delay the onset of age-related mental decline such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease by several years. The study's findings underscore the importance of embracing multilingualism and the profound impact it can have on cognitive health.
- Engaging in cognitive cross-training through bilingualism, as demonstrated by the study, contributes to a larger "cognitive reserve," potentially delaying the onset of age-related mental decline by several years.
- This study on bilingualism at Georgetown University Medical Center revealed that daily mental juggling acts associated with speaking multiple languages can physically reshape the brain, similar to how physical training strengthens the body.
- The findings suggest that the cognitive demand of switching between two spoken languages, rather than just the size of a bilingual's vocabulary, is the key to the brain changes observed in bilinguals, impacting areas such as task-switching, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility.
