That tender age when kids take interest in learning a second language can prove to be having a great effect on the structure of their adult brain, suggests a recent study.
Well known researchers from the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – The Neuro at McGill University and Oxford University tested Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 66 bilingual and 22 monolingual men and women residing in Montreal.
The researchers used a software programme that was developed at The Neuro in order to examine the brain scans.
The study basically found that the pattern or the criteria of brain development is somewhat identical if the child learns one or two language right from birth.
Although learning the second language after having a complete command over the native language proves to be even more beneficial, states the study.
By learining languages, the left inferior frontal cortex tends to become thicker and the right inferior frontal cortex becomes a bit thinner.
Cortex is a multi-layered mass of neurons. It plays a vitol role in cognitive functions such as thought process, language, consciousness and memory.
This recent study states that the task of getting a hold over a second language after infancy triggers new neural growth and also the connections among neurons. This helps in learning complex motor skills like juggling.
“The later in childhood that the second language is acquired, the greater are the changes in the inferior frontal cortex,” quoted Dr Denise Klein, researcher in The Neuro’s Cognitive Neuroscience Unit and a lead author on the paper published in the journal Brain and Language.
“Our results provide structural evidence that age of acquisition is crucial in laying down the structure for language learning,” Klein added.
