Learning a foreign language not only makes it possible to freely communicate with locals in another country and help a foreigner find his way, but also intensively develops our brain. At the time of learning languages, there are many internal changes in the skull that give it advantages.
The work of different parts of the brain
When communicating in our native language or reading texts in a completely familiar translation, the left hemisphere of our brain works. An area of the brain called the "Broca center" is responsible for reproducing speech, and the "Wernicke zone" is responsible for understanding speech. Both of these parts of the brain are located on the left side of it.
When a person is engaged in the study of words in a new language for him, not only the left part of the brain begins to work, but also the right. Information between them is constantly transmitted and creates new neural connections. Memorizing new words, reproducing sounds with an accent, writing - each of these processes is responsible for its own part of the human brain, developing it and strengthening internal connections.
Neuroplasticity
When mastering a foreign language, physical metamorphosis occurs in the brain. These processes are called neuroplasticity – repairing damage in the brain, changing the structure, straightening old and establishing new neural connections. Connections between neurons are directly responsible for human feelings, memory, and imagination. The constant work of the brain in the field of learning a foreign language keeps the brain in good shape, and the formed neural "bridges" are becoming stronger.
The development of unfamiliar languages contributes to an increase in efficiency in performing "executive" activities, since it is for it that those parts of the brain that develop with the knowledge of two or more languages are responsible. "Executive" functions include planning, reasoning, and filtering incoming information. A polyglot in these tasks will have a great advantage over other people.
Also, knowledge of several languages prevents the aging of the brain and reduces the risk of getting degenerative diseases, for example, Alzheimer's disease or dementia. A bilingual person is much less likely to become a victim of such a disease, and in case of getting into the number of patients copes with the disease much better.
"Pumping" the brain
The process of memorizing a new language can be compared to going to the gym. As with physical exertion, muscles grow and strengthen, so when learning a second or more language, the brain is "pumped". When the brain experiences an intellectual load, it increases the amount of gray and white matter containing a huge number of neural circuits.
When a person moves from one language to another, he may not notice it, but his skull has just received a difficult task, the performance of which contributes to the production of gray matter. For the most part, the increase is in the anterior cingulate cortex, which is responsible for ensuring that languages do not mix, speech or writing comes out clean, without foreign-language insertions.
The corpus callosum is responsible for the transfer of information and signals - a kind of bridge between the hemispheres. The development of new languages directly affects the development of this part of the brain, which is why the speed of information transmission increases, and a person makes decisions much faster.
