Bilingual people always think twice. Literally. By constantly coactivating both languages through an expanded neural network, their minds tend to take slightly longer to process sounds and consider options for word retrieval. However, the momentary confusion of not being able to recall an exact word is a small price to pay for the impressive cognitive advantages that come with bilingualism.
Bilingualism has overtaken monolingualism in today’s world, with an estimated 43% of the global population being bilingual compared to 40% being monolinguals. The number is only expected to increase as it becomes more useful to know multiple languages in an era that emphasizes diversity and interconnectivity. Though, the benefits of bilingualism go beyond linguistics to impact the brain’s thinking and learning processes, especially when both languages are introduced at a younger age.
To maintain a balance between languages, bilingual brains are constantly exercising their executive functions and their neuroplasticity. Executive functions refers to the regulatory system of cognitive abilities, involving control, while neuroplasticity is the ability for the brain to change its structure and function based on experience. Bilinguals have heightened control mechanisms, including attention and inhibition, when compared to monolinguals. This enables them to excel at tasks involving conflict management because they have a stronger inhibitory control that developed from consistently being exposed to competing information and having to prioritize the relevant pieces. Multitasking tends to be a breeze for them compared to their monolingual peers.
Bilinguals also have an advantage in sensory processing and attention to detail. A study found that when playing the same simple speech sounds to monolingual and bilingual adolescents, the neural response, or blood flow through the brain stem, was higher in the bilingual group. The increased activity suggests there was better encoding of the sound’s frequency, which leads to better auditory attention. These improvements in processing pathways allow bilingual people to evaluate information in the environment more efficiently and aid their learning skills. They are a major contributor to bilinguals being able to pick up another language quicker than monolinguals.
Moreover, bilingualism helps to prolong cognitive reserve, the maintenance of brain networks to combat functional decline during aging. Processing two languages keeps the brain sharp by continuously engaging these areas and efficiently rerouting networks to compensate for any damage. Studies have shown that bilinguals tend to develop neurodegenerative diseases, like dementia, later in life than monolingual people. One study found that bilingual people affected by Alzheimer’s displayed higher levels of physical damage compared to monolingual patients. However, they still remained at the same behavioral level, likely due to their enhanced neuroplasticity.
“Processing two languages keeps the brain sharp by continuously engaging these areas and efficiently rerouting networks to compensate for any damage.”
Further research on the effects of bilingualism is still being explored as the linguistics on the brain is a complex area of the study. Each bilingual person was also shaped by their own unique experiences and backgrounds, which makes it more difficult to assess the specific impacts of knowing two languages. However, one thing for certain is that it is never too late for us to pick up another language or two and rewire our brains, unlocking a lifetime of cognitive benefits along the way.
