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What Namjoon is talking about here is essentially neural plasticity and synaptic pruning.
In November of 2020, the Journal of Neuroscience published this study that took a look at brain neuroplasticity and lateralization in language learners. +
In November of 2020, the Journal of Neuroscience published this study that took a look at brain neuroplasticity and lateralization in language learners. +
I found the study fascinating and I would like to share some big takeaways. Here is the full study link for your enjoyment.
https://bit.ly/32yW5AX
https://bit.ly/32yW5AX
"While the capacity for neural reorganisation decreases with age, it does not disappear completely, and adult neural plasticity is essential for learning and maintaining new information or behaviours (Kleim and Jones 2008)."
Big takeaway:
Plasticity for reading was greater than for speech comprehension which was in turn greater than for verbal production.
Plasticity for reading was greater than for speech comprehension which was in turn greater than for verbal production.
“Language learning is a hard skill. It's hard for everybody. But it's not because of your brain plasticity. You can learn words, you can learn grammar rules, your language learning capacity is just fine," Gurunandan, author of the study, states. https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/brain-sides-are-both-busy-in-new-language-learning/
While brain changes were slightly larger in adolescents in the study, comprehension appeared to be relatively plastic throughout the lifespan. It's never too late to learn a new language — or get the brain benefits associated with that process." https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/adult-language-learning-change-the-brain
"Because speaking appears to be very strongly lateralized to the left side of the brain, the researchers suggest that it may be easier for adults to pick up languages with a similar phonology to their native language." https://www.languagemagazine.com/2020/11/16/language-learning-rewires-adult-brain/
"Gurunandan & colleagues noted that adults can memorise lists of foreign or nonsense words but struggle to distinguish or pronounce foreign sounds or tones. This difficulty could arise from non-linguistic, sensorimotor aspects of language." https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/how-adults-learn-a-new-language/
"There is a wide variety of linguistic abilities among bilinguals, some are equally proficient in both languages, while others can’t read or write in one of them or use one language at home and another at work." https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/studies-bilingual-cognition-could-help-improve-language-learning.html
And as long as you are here, I want to share one more fun pieces of second language acquisition in the news.
Keep watching Run BTS and those k-dramas!
"Vanderplank (2010) reviewed the extensive literature on the use of video for language learning and found that both children and adults can learn elements of second languages simply from viewing." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/zero-ideology/202007/language-learning-tool-hiding-in-plain-sight
"Vanderplank (2010) reviewed the extensive literature on the use of video for language learning and found that both children and adults can learn elements of second languages simply from viewing." https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/zero-ideology/202007/language-learning-tool-hiding-in-plain-sight
Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts and how this relates to your own language learning journey.
