How Language Changes the Brain 1 When a person learns a new language from intense, hours-long lessons over a short period of time, his or her brain changes in ways that can be measured. Specifically, brain scans show that certain parts of the brain get larger. The greater the language proficiency, the larger the areas of the brain become.

2 The research study that led to these conclusions focused on young recruits at the Swedish Armed Forces Interpreter Academy. These recruits are trained to speak languages like Arabic and Russian fluently within only 13 months. The time commitment is intense: from morning to evening and on weekdays and weekends, the recruits study their new language.

3 Researchers at Lund University in Sweden took brain scans of the recruits before they began studying. They used a type of brain scan called magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. These early MRIs clearly showed the baseline structure of the brain.

4 After three months of study, the recruits’ brains were scanned again. The researchers saw that the size of certain brain regions had grown. Deep in the brain, an area used for learning new material and for navigation, called the hippocampus, got bigger. The outermost layer of the brain, the cerebral cortex, also changed. Parts of the cerebral cortex related to learning a language increased in size. And students who put in the most effort also saw another part of the cerebral cortex change: the region responsible for motor skills (moving your body in a certain way) grew as well.

5 To make sure these brain changes weren’t just a result of studying hard in general, the researchers also took brain scans of another group. They used a group of students at a nearby university who were studying medicine and cognitive science. These students also studied for many hours a day and many days a week, but they did not focus on languages. The researchers found no significant changes in the brains of these students.

6 It might be possible that having a second or third language can help protect people from Alzheimer’s disease. Previous research indicates that people who are bilingual or multilingual acquire Alzheimer’s disease later than people who just speak one language.

7 It’s impossible to know, however, if the three months of intensive language learning, as examined in this research study, have the same effects as a lifetime of speaking multiple languages. But the researchers believe learning more than one language can keep a brain in shape.

More Brainpower!

1 I’ve mostly used this blog to tell you about the past and present, but today I want to talk about the future. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about learning a new language. Scientists say that learning to speak a language, like Russian or Arabic, can help improve brainpower. A new language can even keep your brain healthy as you age. Since we could all use more brain power, I’ve made it a goal to study Russian for thirty minutes a day.

2 Not only will I be able to use my newfound intelligence on tests at school, but since I want to be an astronaut, I’ll also be able to use my Russian language skills to communicate with my cosmonaut coworkers. NASA provides Russian language classes for astronauts, but I know how hard it is to become an astronaut. I believe if I already know Russian, it’ll help my chances to get in.

3 In addition to improving my intelligence, learning a new language should improve my motor and navigation skills. This is another way learning Russian can help my chances of becoming an astronaut.

4 When you work in space, you have to learn how to use all sorts of new equipment. You have to train your body to punch the right buttons over and over—that’s what motor skills are all about. You also have to be good at finding your way in the air and in space, so good navigation skills are useful. Since learning a language increases the parts of the brain linked to motor and navigation skills, my Russian lessons should help in those areas, too.

5 My plan is to read a beginner’s Russian book in the morning for 15 minutes after I wake up but before I eat breakfast. Then, I’ll listen to Russian podcasts for 15 minutes before I go to bed. Of course, I’ll probably be thinking in Russian throughout the day. So I suspect I’ll get more than 30 minutes of Russian language learning every day. It’s best to find as much time with the new language as possible because the more you learn, the better your brain will be.

6 I don’t have access to any brain scanning equipment, so I won’t be able to directly see how much my brain has changed. I’ll just have to hope that I’ve done enough to give those parts of my brain a workout. I hope it will pay off in school and later when I apply to NASA.
Explain why the researchers at Lund University would disagree with some of the blog writer’s assumptions about the benefits of learning Russian. Use details from both texts to support your response.