Bilingualism in the brain

Abstract

Most people in the world learn to speak more than one language during their lifetime. Some do so with great skill, especially if they learn languages early in life as they grow up. Language neuroscience has taken an interest in bilingualism to understand the anatomical changes associated with second language learning and their relationship to neuroplasticity. Here, we review findings from a range of research studies that integrate theoretical models and empirical findings from cognitive psychology and neuroscience to enrich understanding of the effects of bilingualism. We focused on studies that use neurocognitive measures such as cortical thickness and Gray matter volume to highlight the role of bilingualism in producing effects on brain structure and function that occur differentially in early bilinguals compared to monolinguals, late bilinguals compared to monolinguals, and adults. We also addressed the impact of early language experience and age of exposure to bilingualism on neural organization in classical language areas and other sub regions. Finally, we questioned the benefits of bilingualism and mentioned some of them. However, this topic is still in need of further research and studies since the results of these studies cannot be generalized.