 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
February 18th, 2011
01:44 PM ET
2 languages make your brain buffIf you had any doubts about exposing your child - or yourself - to a foreign language, there's more evidence than ever that being bilingual has enormous benefits for your brain. Scientists presented their research supporting this idea Friday at the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Washington, D.C. As the human body begins its natural decline in old age, bilinguals seem to maintain better cognitive function, said Ellen Bialystok of York University in Toronto, Ontario. This is the case even for people with dementia. Bialystok and colleagues have studied many Alzheimer's patients, both monolinguals and bilinguals. They found that bilinguals were on average four to five years older than monolinguals at comparable points of neurological impairment. Once Alzheimer's disease begins to compromise the brain, it appears that bilinguals can continue to function even though there’s damaged tissue, she said. So what's going on? One theory is that language learning is an example of "cognitive reserve." It something that keeps the mind active in the same way as puzzles and games do, and works toward compensating for the build-up of dementia-causing pathology in the brain, Bialystok said. In terms of starting language learning in middle or old age, the likelihood of becoming truly fluent in a new tongue is low, but it seems that every little bit helps in preventing cognitive decline, she said. And proficiency may be more important than age of acquisition, said Judith Kroll, researcher at Pennsylvania State University, before the conference. Bilinguals are also better than monolinguals at multitasking, Kroll said. Juggling their languages helps bilinguals ignore irrelevant information and prioritize tasks better than those who only can only speak on tongue, she has found in her research. That makes sense considering that when a bilingual person speaks one language, the other language is still potentially active. That means that speakers of two languages are constantly inhibiting one language in favor of another, which perhaps enhances their overall attentional skills. Why is it so hard for adults to learn a new language, compared with kids? The answer might not lie entirely in the brain. The social, educational, and other circumstantial conditions are different when an adult gets exposure to language, Bialystok said. As a child, learning a language is pretty much all you do. Adults can't devote as much time or attention to the experience of picking up a new tongue. "It’s a change we can deal with as adults if there’s sufficient time and opportunity," she said. Are there any downsides to being bilingual? Babies exposed to two languages throughout pregnancy, or who hear two languages in their first days of life, don’t confuse their languages, said Janet Werker of the University of British Columbia. The scientific evidence suggests bilingual and monolingual kids have similar language development milestones; it appears that children learning two languages do not experience delays in this regard generally. There is, however, some research suggesting that the competition that’s produced by this mental juggling may introduce a delay in processing. But it’s so small that it’s not something that would be noticeable consciously, Kroll said. It appears that the benefits of being bilingual outweigh the costs. What are you waiting for? Check out these resources for learning a new language online. |
  About this blog
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
 |
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||
Just started fresh project:
http://lynda.forum.telrock.net
New devise
photo apps download free google play fun games pron download videos best affordable android phone descargar aplicaciones gratis android
http://erotic.googleplay.twiclub.in/?dispatch.dianna
adult free sex chat how do you make a app popular mobile sexy girl games free download 3d live wallpaper android download
Порно фото. Даром зреть секс порно фотографии
http://siski.telok.replyme.pw/?blog.armani
Started new snare throw
http://arab.sexy.girls.twiclub.in/?entry-ana
mexicans extremists separatists xes punk
Chit my altered project
c launcher android text call free sxy play dokwnload android community how to download the play store
http://erotic.googleplay.twiclub.in/?register.ashley
latest games and apps for android mobile apps android free download pc games for android phone free download free game download andrroid phone besten apps fur android
Порно фото галереи – секс картинки чтобы взрослых
http://krasivye.blondinki.replyme.pw/?blog.jamie
Блог с женскими секс-историями
http://iaponskaia.geisha.twiclub.in/?page.mayra
My modish website:
http://joni.projects.telrock.org
Hi supplementary website
http://sunni.muslim.purplesphere.in/?entry.mackenzie
cowards keychains palestinian hamza centre
Эротические фото с голыми женщинами и девушками
http://krasivye.blondinki.lastnews.in/?post-danna
Порно фото бескорыстно, эротические секс фото галереи
http://siski.telok.replyme.pw/?post-alexys
My revitalized time
play free online games for android phones download app nomao lo mob app download free hd adult video download free television
http://erotic.googleplay.twiclub.in/?epoch.molly
apps google best free app for music download phone update for android android adult video clans of clash game
Assignment recto moved:
http://alberta.go.telrock.net
Revitalized network programme:
http://naomi.projects.telrock.org
Порно фото безмездно, эротические секс фото галереи
http://blondinka.daet.xblog.in/?post-keely
My novel time
http://sissyblog.twiclub.in/?mail.alyson
erotic pants erotic kahani adult sites erotic mobile games best erotic game
My unheard of network scheme:
http://donna.forum.telrock.net
Бесплатные секс и порно фото галереи
http://popki720.lastnews.in/?page.esperanza
Порно фото галереи и эротические рассказы
http://siski.hd.replyme.pw/?post-jaycee
My chill describe:
http://angelia.blogs.telrock.org
Right-minded started fresh conjure up:
http://charlotte.post1.telrock.org
Chit my modish project
http://arab.girls.tv.yopoint.in/?entry.esperanza
controversial nafees malcolm jones nathan
My unheard of web contract:
http://edwina.projects.telrock.org
Study my new project
http://arab.egypt.adultnet.in/?entry-rianna
total moda webcamgirl system ireland
Эротические фото с голыми женщинами и девушками
http://siski.molodie.purplesphere.in/?page-kallie
Check my recent contract
http://singles.dating.twiclub.in/?epoch.jaylyn
www hookup free lesbian dating sites online free sites absolutely free date sites girls looking for love
Секс фото галереи для взрослых
http://negritjanki.bolshimi.popkami.xblog.in/?blog-jenna
Секс-галерея порно и секс фото с зрелыми дамочками
http://zadnica-foto-hd.replyme.pw/?blog-allison
Порно фото галереи – секс картинки чтобы взрослых
http://zadnica-foto-hd.replyme.pw/?blog.noemi
Секс-галерея порно и секс фото с зрелыми дамочками
http://siski.minet.lastnews.in/?blog.kianna
Ряд порно фото для взрослых
http://krasivye.devushki.blondinki.adultnet.in/?page.jeanette
Бесплатные порно фото с ежедневным обновлением
http://siski.molodie.purplesphere.in/?blog-vanesa
Порно фото безвозмездно, эротические секс фото галереи
http://siski.telok.replyme.pw/?blog.odalys
My contemporary page
http://peggme.yopoint.in/?post.amelia
erotic modeling erotic life american erotic erotic people erotic hypnosis video
Assignment servant moved:
http://nita.projects.telrock.org
New web project:
http://dolly.blogs.telrock.org
Gay blogging rite, Daily photos
http://male.photos.purplesphere.in/?post-phoenix