Neuroscience of Bilingualism - Essay Example

? Bilingualism, neuroplasti and cognition Bilingualism, neuroplasti and cognition In the recent past, there are several scholars who are researching on executive function and cognitive neuroscience of language and the importance of bilingualism to the brain. According to the research conducted, it has been proved that there are several aspects in nature that can be used as a therapy to people suffering from brain injury. Based on the research, these executive functions of the brain are involved in the behavior control of an individual (Santrock, 2008). There are several processes, which are crucial in monitoring the behavior of an individual. This paper will discuss the relationship between bilingualism/multilingualism, neuroplasticity and cognition. Multilingualism can be defined as an act of using numerous languages by an individual speaker or a group of speakers. Therefore, a multilingual individual is a person who has the capacity to converse in more than one language. These multilingual individuals are known as polyglots. In the contemporary world, the number of multilingual speakers significantly outnumbers the number of monolingual speakers. Therefore, multilingualism is substantially becoming a social norm that is governed by cultural openness and aspects of globalization (Santrock, 2008). The extent of exposure to numerous languages is significantly facilitated by the internet among other information resources. Most polyglots have acquired and managed to maintain at least one language during their childhood. This language is identified as the first language of the individual that is also called mother tongue. The other languages are acquired through formal education and children who manage to acquire two languages through this method are simultaneous bilinguals (John, 1999). Furthermore, the simultaneous bilinguals have a single language which dominates over the others. In addition, children have the possibility of acquiring three languages especially when the parents originate from separate languages. This enables the child to become a trilingual individual. On the other hand, neuroplasticity can be defined as the adjustments in neural synapses and pathways resulting from behavioral change, environmental change and bodily change resulting from injury. Research asserts that neuroplasticity usually occurs in several levels. These levels range from cellular changes, which are attributed by learning and extending to vast changes, which involve cortical remapping in injury response. The main role of neuroplasticity is related to memory, learning and brain injury recovery. This is because the brain structure of a human being is somewhat immutable after a critical period in early childhood (John, 1999). These critical periods have also been studied together with the aspect of linguistics. On the contrary, this belief has been challenged by various findings, which assert that most of the aspects of the brain remain the same even in adulthood. Based on these studies, it is obvious that the environmental changes of an individual can alter the cognition and behavior of the individual. These alterations are significantly affected by various modifications in the brain of an individual. There are several changes, which occur on some of the neocortical processing zones. These changes in the brain also affect the pattern of neuronal activation (John, 1999). According to neuroscientific researchers, the experience of an individual can change the anatomy and physiology of his or her brain. Additionally, cognition is identified as a group of various mental processes which comprise of memory, attention, decision-making and problem solving among others. Cognition is usually studied in numerous disciplines including computer science, linguistics, philosophy, psychology and science among others (Kaplan, 2006). Cognition is usually employed in different disciplines in order to define and explain certain phenomena. The definition of the term cognition is also different based on the discipline. For example, the concept of cognition in the discipline of philosophy or psychology is related to the mind and the intelligence factor. This encompasses the processes and functions of the mental system. For several years, most psychologists and sociologists in the world have conducted several studies in relation to the cognitive development, in mental processes and functions. Cognition can also be identified as a faculty that is liable for several functions. Some of the main functions include knowledge application, information processing and change in preferences (Lycan, 1999). Therefore, the cognitive process can either be natural or artificial. The cognitive, mental processes have been influenced by researchers, who have successfully divided the study of behavior into two broad categories which are cognitive and affective. Moreover, most of the research carried out in the study of cognition is both quantitative and scientific or an explanation of several behaviors. The cognitive process purely describes the behavior of an individual in terms of information flow. The field of neuropsychology and cognitive science uses cognitive paradigms so as to appreciate how the brain of a human being performs its functions (John, 1999). According to most individuals, the social context in which the human beings are embedded provides a linguistic expression and a symbol of representation. The contemporary society creates an environment whereby the new born child is connected with a sense of developing cognition. Therefore, education plays a significant role in ensuring that an individual has the capability to develop cognition processes (Stanovich, 2009). However, this education is also affected by the environment and some of the experiences of the child in the environment. One of the emergent behaviors in the contemporary world is the aspect of language acquisition. Based on a large perspective system, cognition is also related to the human and social organization functioning and also constrains. One of the most prevalent examples is whereby the choices made by teachers are usually influenced by the choices of the children. According to the context, it is quite clear that bilingualism, neuroplasticity and cognition are closely related to each other. However, several individuals disagree with the fact that the cognitive process is related with the functioning of the brain. Language learning is also a cognitive process which involves the use of the brain (John, 1999). Thus, if the process of language learning is a cognitive process and not a language acquisition device there would be various relative differences in the two forms of language learning. In most countries, the learners learn at least two foreign languages since; they are expected to interact with the citizens from the neighboring countries. According to various linguists, the relationship between the age of an individual and learning a second language is productive in identifying the ability of the individual to learn the language. This is because there is a considerable difference in the rate of learning English in terms of syntax, morphology and phonology (Chorost, 2005). However, the order of acquisition in learning a second language is not affected by the age of the individual. There are several discoveries that have been made in relation to neurogenesis which are correlated with exploring the limits of plasticity in adults. The concept of neuroplasticity is not easily understood because there are numerous definitions that are closely allied with the term. However, it is essential to note that it is one of the crucial properties of the nervous system since, is allows human beings to respond to both internal and external experiences. This is attributed by the reorganization of the brain structure, function and the connection of the neurons (Chorost, 2005). This asserts that neuroplasticity arises from a response in developmental changes, life experiences, brain damage and also learning experiences. A brief flashback to the cognitive concepts revolves around determining if multilingualism has the ability to induce cognitive concepts to an individual’s brain. This also delays the onset of the symptoms that cause Alzheimer’s diseases hence, preventing individuals from the disease. According to this study, there are two main factors which affect the brain. The first factor is related to the kind of bilingualism which results from the cultural and socio-demographic situation of an individual. In some of the bilingual studies, the language systems are rigid due to the constant changing and mixture. Therefore, it is critical for an individual to differentiate the different kinds of bilingualism and how they have an effect on the cognitive functions (Kaplan, 2006). The second factor involves the maintenance and possession of cerebral representation in more than one language. This maintenance has several benefits to the individual hence; it is crucial for the individual to learn this aspect. Bilingual individuals also have lesser vocabulary in the languages they understand. This enables them to perform certain executive functions better. The research in relation to bilingualism, neuroplasticity and cognition enables individuals to understand the functioning of the brain. There are several challenges that affect the study of neuroscience and psychology (Kaplan, 2006). One of the most common challenges is the development of cognitive functions, child development and an understanding of how these cognitive functions affect the development of the brain structure. Researchers perform experiments with young children to learn about the development of the cognitive processes. This procedure involves the use of imaging techniques to access all the information required in reasoning, reasoning and other executive functions. The other challenge in this research involves the understanding of how the acquired information can be employed and accumulated in relation to neuroscience and psychology (Lycan, 1999). Individuals also have a conviction that all the tasks they perform will enable them to understand mental diseases, and also enable professionals to invent a treatment plan of the disease. Professionals are supposed to relate these three aspects in order to develop an independent thinking criterion to conduct a research. This can also involve a study of the executive functions of the brain of an individual and the procedure involved in behavioral control. These executive functions also comprise of a set processes that monitor the behavior of an individual. This enables an individual to control and prevent some of the errors through regulating the behavior of an individual (Kaplan, 2006). In this case, the executive system is viewed as a form of cognitive controller, which monitors the general state of an organism. The brain also supervises information input and coordinates attention distribution according with the processes performed. This proves that the executive part of the brain of an individual maintains flexible behavior of the organism. In conclusion, the superlative method of understanding the executive behavior involves thinking about different situations whereby an individual is faced with an entirely new task which can include learning a new language. In this case, the behavior of the individual is expressed with difficulty. Therefore, the individual should be monitored and supervised constantly to assess some of the actions performed (Stanovich, 2009). With time, the learning experiences become automatic to the individual hence; the individual is able to perform several activities without much straining. It is also clear that when an individual learns a new task, it is usually exhausting in the beginning, and it also utilizes several resources from the individual. References Chorost, M. (2005). Rebuilt: How becoming part computer made me more human. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Press. John, B. (1999). Cognitive psychology. New York: Wiley Press. Kaplan, R. (2006). Cultural thought patterns in inter-cultural education language learning. New York: Wiley Press. Lycan, W. (1999). Mind and cognition: An anthology. Malden: Blackwell Publishers. Santrock, J. (2008). Bilingualism and second-language learning: A topical approach to life-span development. New York: McGraw-Hill Press. Stanovich, K. (2009). What intelligence tests miss: The psychology of rational thought. New Haven: Yale University Press. Read More