Title of article :
Structural plasticity in the language system related to increased second language proficiency
Author/Authors :
Stein، نويسنده , , Maria and Federspiel، نويسنده , , Andrea L. Koenig، نويسنده , , Thomas and Wirth، نويسنده , , Miranka and Strik، نويسنده , , Werner and Wiest، نويسنده , , Roland and Brandeis، نويسنده , , Daniel and Dierks، نويسنده , , Thomas، نويسنده ,
Issue Information :
روزنامه با شماره پیاپی سال 2012
Pages :
8
From page :
458
To page :
465
Abstract :
While functional changes linked to second language learning have been subject to extensive investigation, the issue of learning-dependent structural plasticity in the fields of bilingualism and language comprehension has so far received less notice. In the present study we used voxel-based morphometry to monitor structural changes occurring within five months of second language learning. Native English-speaking exchange students learning German in Switzerland were examined once at the beginning of their stay and once about five months later, when their German language skills had significantly increased. We show that structural changes in the left inferior frontal gyrus are correlated with the increase in second language proficiency as measured by a paper-and-pencil language test. Contrary to the increase in proficiency and grey matter, the absolute values of grey matter density and second language proficiency did not correlate (neither on first nor on second measurement). This indicates that the individual amount of learning is reflected in brain structure changes, regardless of absolute proficiency.
Keywords :
Bilingualism , Learning , Language , structural plasticity , VBM
Journal title :
Cortex
Serial Year :
2012
Journal title :
Cortex
Record number :
2300922
Link To Document :
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