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Quick Language Learners can be Identified by Analyzing Brain Activity While Resting

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Jul 4 2016 11:47 AM

 Quick Language Learners can be Identified by Analyzing Brain Activity While Resting
Some people learn new languages easily and for other people the process can take a little longer. The brain activity generated while relaxing is likely to indicate individuals who can learn new languages faster, says a research. The findings showed that a five-minute measurement of resting-state brain activity predicted how quickly adults picked up a second language.
"The way someone's brain functions while at rest can predict 60% of their capacity for learning a second language," said lead author Chantel Prat, Associate Professor at the University of Washington.

The patterns of resting-state brain waves reflect synchronized firing of large networks of neurons and can determine subsequent language learning rate.

The findings showed that the larger the networks in 'beta' frequencies - brain frequencies associated with language and memory, the faster was the learning.

"This is vital brain function research that could enable the military to develop a more effective selection process of those who can learn languages quickly," said Ray, a program officer in Office of Naval Research's (ONR) Warfighter Performance Department, who oversees the research.

"This is especially critical to the intelligence community, which needs linguists fluent in a variety of languages, and must find such individuals rapidly," Perez added.

For the study, 19 participants - adults between the ages of 18 and 31, with no previous experience learnt French over eight weeks for 30-minute French lessons delivered through an immersive, virtual-reality computer program.

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For five minutes before and after the eight-week curriculum, the team had participants sit still, close their eyes, breathe deeply and wear an EEG (electroencephalogram) headset measuring resting-state brain activity from the cerebral cortex - an area of the brain crucial to memory, attention and perception.

The results showed that those with the larger 'beta' networks learned French twice as quickly.

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"By studying individual differences in the brain, we're figuring out key constraints on learning and information processing, to develop ways to improve language mastery," said Prat.

Source-IANS


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