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Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language01:10

Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language

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Language is a system of communication that allows the expression of thoughts, ideas, and feelings. The brain processes language in both hemispheres.
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Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
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Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
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Language, whether spoken, signed, or written, consists of specific components: lexicon and grammar. The lexicon is the vocabulary of a language, comprising its words. Grammar is the set of rules used to convey meaning through the lexicon. For example, English grammar adds “-ed” to most verbs to indicate past tense. Words are formed by combining phonemes, which are the basic sound units of a language. Different languages have different sets of phonemes (e.g., “ah” vs.
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Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or...
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Children master language quickly and with relative ease, supported by both biological predisposition and reinforcement. B. F. Skinner (1957) proposed that language is learned through reinforcement, while Noam Chomsky (1965) argued that language acquisition mechanisms are biologically determined.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Measuring Statistical Learning Across Modalities and Domains in School-Aged Children Via an Online Platform and Neuroimaging Techniques
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Brain structure correlates of foreign language learning experiences.

Xiaoqiao Wang1, Jae-Yoon Kim2, Jun-Ho Kim2

  • 1Department of Psychology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
|October 6, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Learning a new language, even with limited exposure, reshapes the brain. Earlier acquisition and consistent use correlate with increased gray matter volume and improved white matter integrity in key language and executive function areas.

Keywords:
foreign language learninggray matter volumeneuroimagingstructural MRIwhite matter integrity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Science
  • Linguistics

Background:

  • Bilingualism induces brain structural changes.
  • Limited research exists on long-term foreign language learners' neuroplasticity.
  • Understanding neuroplasticity beyond natural bilingualism is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate how age of acquisition, proficiency, and daily use affect brain structure in foreign language learners.
  • Examine gray matter volume and white matter integrity.
  • Explore neuroplasticity in non-native language acquisition.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 32 young adult foreign language learners in South Korea.
  • Utilized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) for gray matter analysis.
  • Employed tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) for white matter integrity.

Main Results:

  • Earlier foreign language acquisition linked to greater gray matter volume in the left inferior parietal lobule and left thalamus.
  • Higher daily use associated with increased right inferior parietal lobule volume but decreased right anterior cingulate cortex volume.
  • Earlier acquisition correlated with better white matter integrity in the splenium of the corpus callosum; higher daily use linked to better integrity in the body of the corpus callosum.

Conclusions:

  • Sustained foreign language exposure, even if limited, drives significant brain structural adaptations.
  • Findings expand the understanding of language-related neuroplasticity.
  • Brain structure is malleable in response to non-native language learning.