Learning a New Language Changes Your Brain Structure and Cognitive Skills

Learning new languages physically changes your brain and increases your cognitive abilities. Research shows that learning languages benefits your overall brain health. Learning a new language is like working out your brain. Neural pathways in the brain reshape when you learn a new language. Language processing involves two key circuits. One circuit perceives and produces sound, forming the foundation of language. Another circuit selects which language's sounds to use. These circuits are rewired as we learn and switch between languages. A German study in 2024 measured the brain activity of Syrian refugees learning German. It found that people's brains rewired as they became more proficient. 'Brain rewiring' means the brain's neuronal structures physically changed, a process called neuroplasticity. Learning a new language increases gray matter structure in areas related to language processing and executive function. Structural changes in the brain also change the way the brain functions. This 'neural plasticity' helps you remember words faster and improve pronunciation. Studies show that we use the same brain networks for all languages. However, the brain responds differently to our native language. Brain activity in language networks decreased when participants listened to their native language. Some research shows that multilingualism improves cognitive abilities like memory and problem-solving. However, it's unclear if having a bigger vocabulary is due to a bigger cognitive reserve. Scientists aren't sure if changes in cognitive skills are due to learning languages or other factors.