Bilingualism and How It Helps Your Brain

Valerie Flores, a doctoral candidate at Loyola University Chicago talked about her research in bilingual “brokering.” In this case, brokering refers to the ability and frequency to translate and switch between two languages. Being fluent in two languages myself caught my interest when she introduced her research. Ms. Flores explained that language brokers may be those that frequently translate materials and conversations for their family and friends. She mentioned that the benefits to language brokering are higher self-reported grades and higher test scores. The reasoning behind this is that the brain of a language broker is able to frequently switch between both languages. This skill results in a better executive function, a command system that directs the attention processes that we use for planning, solving problems and performing various other mentally demanding tasks. She explained that language brokers have better executive functions because of the enhanced control conflict active at the same time when one must inhibit one language. Language brokers are able to achieve this by practicing switching between two languages and cultural systems. Overall, language brokers also showed superior performance on non-verbal spatial tasks and particular language tasks. “They are less likely to attain cognitive decline as an older adult, and they have what is called ‘metalinguistic awareness,’ the ability to manipulate the meaning and structure of language,” said Ms. Flores. She then went on to explain her findings for several tasks that she conducted, one of which is called the Color Word Stroop Task. This task consists of either flashcards or slides each having the name of a color in a different color. We know that our literacy process is faster than our visual process so the purpose of this task is to identify the color of the word, even though the word is in a different color. The task gets more difficult as you go along, with each slide only presenting itself for 2 seconds, by adding a box around some words and you can only say the words that are in the box, adding another level of difficulty. This shows the ability to shift when presented with a fast stimulus and a change in instructions, also known as cognitive flexibility. Specifically, this happens in the left parietal lobe where this unique ability to shift and inhibit takes place.

In an article through the New York Times titled “The Benefits of Bilingualism,” by Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, talks about how being bilingual really does benefit and improve your cognitive ability and really does lower your chances of dementia. Bhattacharjee talks about how society used to think that learning two languages caused an interference and did not result in higher cognitive skills but knowing two languages actually causes the opposite. “It forces the brain to resolve internal conflict, giving the mind a workout that strengthens its cognitive muscles.” The article mentions that bilinguals showed higher and faster results in monitoring tasks, like monitoring our surroundings when driving. The interesting statement is that, “the bilingual subjects not only performed better, but they also did so with less activity in parts of the brain involved in monitoring, indicating that they were more efficient at it.” This statement goes along with being able to translate efficiently and precisely, comparing to the main focus in Valerie Flores’ study. Being bilingual or even multilingual enhances your brain’s overall function and more and more studies are proving so.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-benefits-of-bilingualism.html??version=meter+at+5&region=FixedCenter&pgtype=Article&priority=true&module=RegiWall-Regi&action=click