After scanning the brains of English speakers who over a six week period learned Chinese, researchers revealed that the human brain is more malleable than previously thought. CBS News highlighted this research, published in the Journal of Neurolinguistics, and interviewed coauthor Ping Li, Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, about what he and his collaborators learned from the results.
Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, the researchers scanned the brains of English speakers, asked half of them to learn Chinese, and after six weeks conducted another scan to identify changes in the networking of their brains. The research team reported that different regions of the human brain become better connected and more efficient after learning just some of a new language. By building stronger connections across regions, the brain is better able to processes information quickly. In other words, a well-connected brain is “stronger”. Dr. Li and his colleagues also discovered that some individuals are more successful language learners. Those who picked up the new language more easily had well-integrated regional connections in their brains.
Read the full story on the CBS News website.
Dr. Li’s work focuses on understanding the relationships among culture, language, and the brain. He and his colleagues study neural mechanisms underlying language in both native and non-native speakers. His research uses a variety of approaches, including computational, behavioral, and neuroimaging methodologies.