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Bilingualism

All articles tagged with #bilingualism

neuroscience1 year ago

"Bilingualism's Protective Effect on Aging Brain"

A study from the Singapore University of Technology and Design suggests that early bilingualism leads to beneficial structural changes in the brain, including increased gray matter volume and cortical thickness, which contribute to a stronger cognitive reserve. This reserve is crucial for maintaining social cognitive abilities into older age, highlighting bilingualism’s potential to enhance mental flexibility and attention control. The findings emphasize the importance of bilingualism for healthier aging and encourage early language learning to preserve cognitive function and social cognition in later life.

via Neuroscience News|
#aging#bilingualism#brain-structure
health2 years ago

"Language Learning and Lifestyle Changes: Key to Preventing Dementia"

Research suggests that bilingualism may offer cognitive benefits in later life, potentially delaying the onset of conditions like Alzheimer's disease. However, the benefits seem to be more pronounced for those who have used multiple languages in their daily life since early adulthood, rather than for those who casually learn a new language later on. Bilingualism is believed to keep the brain constantly engaged, providing cognitive advantages that may not be obtained from other enriching experiences.

via The New York Times|
#bilingualism#brain-health#cognitive-benefits
neuroscience2 years ago

"Bilingualism Boosts Attentional Control in the Brain"

Speaking two languages may enhance attentional control and the ability to ignore irrelevant information, according to a study from the University of Florida. Bilingual individuals demonstrated better attentional control compared to monolinguals, potentially due to their constant need to switch between languages. The study used a novel task called the Partial Repetition Cost task to measure participants' information processing and attention control abilities. The findings highlight the adaptability of cognitive traits and the need for more consistency in research on bilingualism and cognition.

via Neuroscience News|
#attentional-control#bilingualism#cognitive-processes
science-and-psychology2 years ago

"Boost Critical Thinking and Memory Skills with a Foreign Language, Says UChicago Psychologist"

University of Chicago psychology professor David Gallo suggests that thinking in a foreign language can improve critical thinking, decision-making skills, and memory. Speaking a second language exercises the brain in a way that monolinguals don't experience, leading to more rational and logical decision-making. Processing information in a secondary language can also enhance memory and reduce susceptibility to false memories and misinformation. Gallo recommends leveraging this brain hack by thinking in a different language when faced with tough decisions or trying to remember information. Learning multiple languages, especially from a young age, can have long-term cognitive benefits.

via CNBC|
#bilingualism#cognitive-function#critical-thinking
linguistics2 years ago

Unlocking the Hidden Meaning Behind Baby Babble

Babies babble with different sounds depending on the language they are exposed to, indicating their ability to imitate the rhythm and intonation of the language they hear. Research shows that babies raised in bilingual households adapt their babbling patterns to match the languages they are exposed to. This ability is attributed to enhanced neuroplasticity, which allows babies to learn and distinguish all sounds and languages. Contrary to the belief that learning multiple languages simultaneously would confuse babies, studies suggest that it actually enhances brain flexibility and maximizes neuroplasticity. The heightened ability to learn language lasts until around 5 years old, with some language superpowers lingering until age 12.

via NPR|
#baby-babble#bilingualism#language-acquisition
neuroscience2 years ago

The Cognitive Abilities of Toddlers: Logic Over Language

Toddlers as young as 19 months old exhibit natural logical thinking, independent of language knowledge, through a process called exclusion by elimination. This innate reasoning ability allows toddlers to make conclusions about unknown realities by ruling out known impossibilities. The study found no significant differences in logical abilities between bilingual and monolingual toddlers, suggesting that this cognitive skill is universal and not dependent on linguistic experience.

via Neuroscience News|
#bilingualism#cognitive-development#language-acquisition
neuroscience2 years ago

Neuroscience Breakthroughs and Brain Games: September 3, 2023

This week in neuroscience, groundbreaking discoveries include a diet that can extend lifespan without calorie restriction, a drug that can revolutionize obesity treatment, cognitive benefits of bilingualism, insights into schizophrenia from a new mouse model, and a special baby formula that boosts children's IQ and executive functions significantly.

via Neuroscience News|
#aging#bilingualism#infant-formula
neuroscience2 years ago

"The Cognitive Advantage of Bilingualism: Strengthening Memory and Predictive Abilities"

Bilingual individuals have an advantage in memory retention and word prediction due to the "competing words" effect. The same neural apparatus processes both languages in bilinguals, activating competing words from both languages. Bilinguals with high proficiency in their second language show enhanced memory and prediction abilities compared to monolinguals and bilinguals with low second-language proficiency. Eye-tracking data supports the claim that bilinguals focus longer on objects with overlapping word sounds, leading to improved memory retention. Bilingualism enhances basic cognitive functions such as memory and categorization.

via Neuroscience News|
#bilingualism#cognitive-functions#language-processing
health2 years ago

The Unexpected Link Between Language and Stroke

A study published in Neurology found that Mexican Americans who spoke only Spanish had worse neurological outcomes three months after a stroke compared to those who were bilingual or spoke only English. The study involved 1,096 Mexican American stroke patients in Corpus Christi, Texas, and found that Spanish-only speakers had higher neurologic scores indicating moderate effects from the stroke, while English-only and bilingual speakers had lower scores indicating mild effects. However, there was no difference between the groups in their ability to complete daily activities or in their cognitive abilities. Further research is needed to understand the factors influencing these outcomes.

via SciTechDaily|
#bilingualism#health#language
health2 years ago

The Neurological Perks of Bilingualism

Speaking two languages every day from a young age may protect against developing dementia later in life, according to a new study. Researchers in Germany discovered that bilingual people scored better on tests of learning, memory, language and self-control than those who spoke only one language. Bilingualism may serve as a protective factor against cognitive decline and dementia, especially if the second language is learned in early and middle life. The ability to switch between two languages is the key factor that makes bilinguals better at cognitive skills such as multitasking, emotion management and self-control, which ultimately protects them from dementia.

via The Jerusalem Post|
#bilingualism#brain-structure#cognitive-skills
local-news2 years ago

Seattle Light Rail Service Disrupted for 2 Weeks Due to Tunnel Damage

The Seattle light rail will experience severe delays for two weeks due to a construction snafu, with northbound platforms at several stations closed. Voters approved a $1.25 billion levy to add more walk-in 24-hour crisis care centers and wages to support more mental health care staff. Espresso Vivace Sidewalk Bar is shutting down after 35 years. Drama has arisen at the annual tulip festival in Mount Vernon due to a new farm opening 900 feet away from a 40-year-old mainstay. Bilingualism may stave off dementia, according to a new study. A Michigan boy stopped a bus crash by rushing to the wheel from five rows back.

via The Stranger|
#bilingualism#local-news#mental-health-care
health2 years ago

Speaking two languages may delay onset of dementia, study finds.

A new study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging suggests that bilingualism may protect against dementia and cognitive decline in older people. Researchers in Germany found that those who reported using two languages daily from a young age scored higher on tests of learning, memory, language, and self-control than patients who spoke only one language. The study tested 746 people age 59 to 76 and found that volunteers who reported using a second language daily between age 13 and 30 or between age 30 and 65 had higher scores on language, memory, focus, attention, and decision-making abilities compared with those who were not bilingual at those ages.

via The New York Times|
#bilingualism#cognitive-health#dementia