Folium: Learning a Second Language Can Give Your Brain a Boost via Lifehacker.com
Folium: Learning a Second Language Can Give Your Brain a Boost via Lifehacker.com
Folium: Learning a Second Language Can Give Your Brain a Boost via Lifehacker.com
While this idea doesn’t seem like this big of a stretch, I’m happy to see evidence. Go science! New studies coming out of the journal Developmental Science point to how the brain actually rewires and grows as it adapts to new systems of communication. Specifically, bilingual people are more adept at certain mental games and challenges.
The supporting research behind this actually relates to philosophical thought, stating that languages actually change the way that you perceive the world around you. Basically, more languages means more ways to observe and analyze scenarios.
The collective evidence from a number of such studies suggests that the bilingual experience improves the brain’s so-called executive function — a command system that directs the attention processes that we use for planning, solving problems and performing various other mentally demanding tasks. These processes include ignoring distractions to stay focused, switching attention willfully from one thing to another and holding information in mind — like remembering a sequence of directions while driving. – “The Benefits of Bilingualism” via The New York Times
The prevailing thought in the early to mid twentieth century used to be that bilingualism “confused” and “obstructed” learning processes in your children, and boldly declared so with no supporting evidence! I’m happy to see that when we actually put it to the test, we learn that bilingualism wins out! Speak different, think different, learn different!
