Smarter thanks to fluent in 2 languages

Speaking from two or more languages ​​not only opens up a new world in an era of globalization, but also helps the brain grow.

The new finding shows that mastering two languages ​​creates a change in brain activity. It can profoundly affect the brain, even improve cognitive abilities that are unrelated to language, and create a solid shield against dementia in the elderly.

The finding is completely different from the idea that a person is fluent in two languages ​​in the 20th century. Researchers, educators and policy makers have seen the second language as a kind of intervention, obstructing the development of learning ability and intelligence. However, they are not completely wrong about the 'intervention'. There are many examples showing that the bilingual system in the brain activates even if the person is only using one. This creates a situation where a system interferes with the other.

Fluency in 2 languages ​​improves brain processing ability

But new findings by experts suggest that the intervention itself forces the brain to resolve internal conflict, creating a training environment to enhance cognitive ability. For example, people who are fluent in two languages ​​seem to solve better quizzes than those who speak only one language, according to The New York Times , which reported results in 2004 by experts Ellen Bialystok and Michelle Martin-Rhee. These studies show that mastering two languages ​​effectively improves the governance function of the brain.

Why does the conflict between the two language systems improve the cognitive aspects? Albert Costa, an expert at Pompea Fabra University (Spain), said that the key difference between people who speak two languages ​​and those who speak only their mother tongue can be in the ability to monitor the environment. 'Bilingual people have to switch languages ​​often, like speaking Italian to this person and German to the other person,' The New York Times quoted Mr Costa. In a study comparing German-Italian and Italian-only speakers, Italian-Italian speakers not only performed better monitoring and supervision tasks, but also effectively used the deployed brain. this activity.

Experts also discovered never late when they started learning a new language, because the effect occurred for all ages, from infants to the elderly. Knowing more foreign languages, and the more proficient they are, the more likely they are to reverse the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's symptoms, according to a study by the University of California at San Diego.