Bilingualism and the Brain

Bilinguals have been compared with monolinguals and become research focus due to their more extensive communication skills, more complex thought processes, and easier identity development in two different languages. Being a bilingual from babyhood is a unique experience which can change the structure, the network and the executive control system in the brain. There are two constantly active languages in the minds of bilinguals and bilinguals are always in a state of deciding between these languages, which is an exercise for the brain. A study (Mechelli, 2004) has showed that that second-language learning raises grey matter in the left inferior parietal cortex, which is related to decision-making, inhibition and focusing. In fact, the difference between bilinguals and monolinguals could emerge at infanthood. A relevant study (Kovacs et al., 2009) has indicated that seven-month-year-olds bilinguals have left the contemporaneous monolinguals behind at learning a new rule while playing with puppets. Furthermore, bilinguals have advantages at getting Alzheimer at elder ages. The difference between monolinguals and bilinguals for getting the illness is 4.1 years (Bialstok et al., 2007). Based on the results of the relevant studies, it can be concluded that bilingualism and multilingualism should be encouraged across the world for cognitive advantage and conserving good health.