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Updated: Oct 20, 2025

Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques
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Structural brain changes with second language learning: A longitudinal voxel-based morphometry study.

Cong Liu1, Lu Jiao2, Kalinka Timmer3

  • 1Department of Psychology, Normal College & School of Teacher Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China; Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education, & Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.

Brain and Language
|September 14, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Learning a second language (L2) led to decreased gray matter volume in specific brain regions, particularly the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). These structural brain changes correlated with improved language control abilities.

Keywords:
Language controlSecond language learningStructural MRIVoxel-based morphometry

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Psycholinguistics

Background:

  • The neural underpinnings of second language (L2) acquisition remain incompletely understood.
  • Longitudinal studies are crucial for observing dynamic brain changes associated with L2 learning.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of classroom-based L2 learning on grey matter structure.
  • To explore the relationship between structural brain adaptations and language control abilities.
  • To identify predictors of volumetric changes during L2 acquisition.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study design with participants scanned twice, one year apart.
  • Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis to assess gray matter volume (GMV) changes.
  • Correlation analysis between structural changes and language control ability.

Main Results:

  • A decrease in GMV was observed in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) after one year of L2 learning.
  • These structural adaptations were significantly correlated with improvements in language control.
  • Age of L2 acquisition predicted volumetric changes in the left ACC, while L2 proficiency predicted changes in the right IFG.

Conclusions:

  • Classroom L2 learning induces dynamic structural adaptations in the brain.
  • These adaptations in the ACC and IFG are linked to enhanced language control mechanisms.
  • The findings provide insights into the neural plasticity underlying L2 acquisition.