LEARN A
LANGUAGE OR
INSTRUMENT
So far only two types of mental
exertion have been shown to improve
or preserve overall cognitive ability.
One is musical training; the other is
learning a new language, or practising
a second one you have already learned.
Gottfried Schlaug, director of the
Music and Neuroimaging Laboratory
at Harvard University, the USA,
explains: “Listening to and making
music is not just an auditory experience;
it’s a multisensory and motor
experience. Playing an instrument
changes how the brain interprets and
integrates a wide range of sensory
information, and making music over
a long period of time can change brain
function and brain structure”
As for the role of language-learning
in boosting brain power, a team at
Edinburgh University assessed mental
alertness in a group of 33 students
(aged 18 to 78) who undertook a one-
week Scottish Gaelic course. After
the course, they were encouraged
to practise their new language for five
hours a week. At the end of the course,
their attention was found to be better
than comparison groups who had done
other types of courses or no course
at all, and, nine months later, those
who had been practising had bumped
up their attention span even more.
Lead researcher Dr Thomas Bak
of the School of Philosophy,
Psychology and Language Sciences
at the University of Edinburgh,
the UK, said the results confirm
the cognitive benefits of language-
learning. “I think there are three
important messages from our
study: first, it is never too late to
start a novel mental activity such
as learning a new language.
Second, even a short, intensive
course can show beneficial effects
on some cognitive functions.
Third, this effect can be maintained
through practice.”
“Even a short,
intensive
course can
show benefits
on some
cognitive
functions”
| THE HUMAN BRAINSCIENCE74 June 2017