Abstract:

Brain plasticity refers to any functional change or structural reconfiguration of the brain triggered by environmental stimulation, cognitive demands and behavior experience. About a decade of research with bilingualism and language training shows that, whether we are the young or the old, long-term or short-term L2 learning can influence our brain’s functional pattern as well as its corresponding anatomical changes. Included are the increased volume of gray matter (GM) and density of white matter (WM) as well as the reorganization of neural networks. Long-time and continuous L2 learning will promote functional executive control and its neural underpinnings, which may protect neural reserve against aging. Based on brain plasticity, cross-sectional and longitudinal studies involved are compared and the mechanism of how both functional and structural changes occur in the brain as a function of L2 learning is discussed. Additionally, some suggestions are presented for future exploration.

Key words: L2 learning, brain plasticity, bilingual effect, language training