Learn Foreign Languages to Keep Brain Sharp

                Learning foreign languages may sharpen your brain by enhancing its elasticity and ability to code information. The more foreign languages we learn, the more effectively our brain reacts and processes the data accumulated in the course of learning. The neuro-physiological mechanics of language and speech acquisition are underexplored when compared to the brain’s other functions. The reason for such scarce attention is the inability to study verbal function on test animals. Researchers carried out experiments where the brain’s electrical activity was measured with electroencephalography (EEG).

Ten male and 12 female participants, with the average age being 24, took part in the investigation. The subjects had electrodes placed on their heads and then listened to recordings of different words in their native language, as well in foreign languages, both known and completely unknown by the subjects. When the known or unknown words popped up, changes in the brain’s activity were tracked. Researchers focused on the speed at which the brain readjusted its activity to treat unknown words. The ability of the brain to process information depends on one’s “linguistic anamneses,” experts said. The study shows that the brain’s electrical activity was higher among those who knew foreign languages.