Researchers have found that learning a second language enhances brain connectivity, particularly when started in childhood. The study, published in Communications Biology, used whole-brain fMRI scans to show that bilingual individuals have more efficient communication between brain regions.
The connection was strongest between the cerebellum and left frontal cortex. The researchers discovered that this effect increased with age, suggesting an early boost to cognitive flexibility and neuroplasticity.
This heightened connectivity may improve attention, healthy aging, and resilience to age-related decline. The findings contribute to understanding bilingualism’s broader impact on the brain and could have implications for education and brain health.
The study involved 151 participants who either spoke French, English, or both languages. They were scanned using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record whole-brain connectivity. The results showed that bilingual participants had increased connectivity between brain regions than monolingual participants.
This is not the first time research has shown that learning a second language positively affects attention, healthy aging, and recovery after brain injury. However, this new study provides more insight into how bilingualism influences the brain connections we use to think, communicate, and experience the world around us.
According to Dr. Zeus Gracia Tabuenca, the first author of the paper, “Our work suggests learning a second language during childhood helps build a more efficient brain organization in terms of functional connectivity.” The study’s findings indicate that earlier exposure to a second language has lasting positive effects on brain functional organization.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/bilingual-brain-connectivity-27833/