LoveTelepathy: Is It

Real?(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Life/Love-Telepathy-Is-It-Real-120212.Htm)

Stone AgeWomen

EnduredRegularViolence(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Evolution/Stone-Age-Women-Endured-Violence-130213.Htm)

Got GoodGerms?

Depends OnHow You WereBorn(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Health/Got-Good-Germs-It-May-Depend-On-How-You-Were-Born-130213.Htm)

more LIKE THIS {

WATCH VIDEO: See

How Thoughts Are

Transferred In A

Teenage Brain.

(Http://Dsc.Discovery.Com/Tv-

Shows/Discovery-

Presents/Videos/Understanding-

The-Brain-

Teenagers.Htm)

PSYCHOLOGY (HTTP://NEWS.DISCOVERY.COM/HUMAN/PSYCHOLOGY)

Are Some Brains Better at Learning Languages?MAR 19, 2012 03:00 AM ET // BY EMILY SOHN (HTTP://NEWS.DISCOVERY.COM/EMILY-SOHN.HTM)

Some brains may be better than others at learning languages. ©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM (HTTP://WWW.ISTOCKPHOTO.COM)

THE GIST- There may be certain areas in the brain that are enlarged or

extra efficient that could lend some language learners an

advantage.

- Studies show that it becomes more difficult to learn new

languages as you get older.

- Neuroscientists are still trying to understand all the various brain

regions involved in learning language.

In his spare time, an otherwise ordinary 16-year old boy from New

York taught himself Hebrew, Arabic, Russian, Swahili, and a dozen

other languages, the New York Times reported last week

(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/nyregion/a-teenage-

master-of-languages-finds-online-fellowship.html).

And even though it's not entirely clear how close to fluent Timothy

Doner is in any of his studied languages, the high school sophomore

-- along with other polyglots like him -- are certainly different from

most Americans, who speak one or maybe two languages.

That raises the question: Is there something unique about certain

brains, which allows some people to speak and understand so many

more languages than the rest of us?

The answer, experts say, seems to be yes, no and it's complicated.

For some people, genes may prime the brain to be good at

language learning, according to some new research. And studies are

just starting to pinpoint a few brain regions that are extra-large or

extra-efficient in people who excel at languages.

D NEWS video

THE MUST reads

(http://news.discovery.com/human/life/love-

telepathy-is-it-

real-120212.htm)

(http://news.discovery.com/human/evolution/stone-

age-women-

endured-violence-

130213.htm)

(http://news.discovery.com/human/health/got-

good-germs-it-

may-depend-on-

how-you-were-

born-130213.htm)

RELATED links

DNews: A World Without Helium(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Videos/A-World-Without-Helium.Htm)

(http://news.discovery.com/videos/a-

world-without-helium.htm)

(http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/underwater-

figurine-invasions-pictures-130219.htm)

TweetTweet 2

13

(http://www.reddit.com/submit?

url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sexpauses.com%2FAss%2F692%2FAdorable-

Slut-Loves-

Hard-

Fucking-In-

Its-Huge-

Ass.html&title=)submit

(http://www.reddit.com/submit?

url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sexpauses.com%2FAss%2F692%2FAdorable-

Slut-Loves-

Hard-

Fucking-In-

Its-Huge-

Ass.html&title=)

StumbleUpon

9

Like

(https://www.facebook.com/DiscoveryNews) (https://twitter.com/Discovery_News) (http://discoverynews.tumblr.com/)

(http://feeds.feedburner.com/DiscoveryNews-Top-Stories)

(/)

TECH (/TECH) SPACE (/SPACE) HUMAN (/HUMAN) EARTH (/EARTH) HISTORY (/HISTORY) ANIMALS (/ANIMALS)

ADVENTURE (/ADVENTURE) VIDEO (/VIDEOS)

NEWS: Breaking the Code: Why Yuor Barin Can RaedTihs (http://news.discovery.com/human/brain-code-cracking-language-120210.html)For others, though, it's more a matter of being determined and

motivated enough to put in the hours and hard work necessary to

learn new ways of communicating.

"Kids do well in what they like," said Michael Paradis, a neurolinguist

at McGill University in Montreal, who compared language learning to

piano, sports or anything else that requires discipline. "Kids who

love math do well in math. He loves languages and is doing well in

languages."

"This is just an extreme case of a general principle," he added. "If

you practice and have a great deal of motivation for a particular

domain, you're going to be able to improve in that domain beyond

normal limits."

Very young children are remarkably good at learning multiple

languages simultaneously. They can develop native-sounding accents

in each tongue. And into adulthood, all reinforced languages hold

their own in the brain without interfering with the others -- unlike

later learners who may have trouble remembering a second

language when they begin to learn a third.

With age, though, it not only becomes tougher to learn new

languages, there may even be developmental stages beyond which

certain nuances of language simply become inaccessible. By the age

of 9 to 12 months, for example, babies begin to lose the ability to

distinguish between sounds that are not used in their native

language, said Loraine Obler, a neurolinguist at the CUNY Graduate

Center in New York.

After about age 4, most people will never gain a truly deep grasp on

a second language's morphology, which refers to the rules that

govern how words are formed from linguistic units. After age 7 or

so, the brain begins to pay more attention to what it's learning,

Paradis said, which affects the type of memory kids use to pick up

languages.

And beyond puberty, it becomes unlikely that someone will be able

to speak a new language without a foreign accent, though Doner is

unique in how impressive his accent sounds, which may reflect a

late-to-mature brain. (There seems to be no cut-off point for

learning vocabulary).

For more than a century, scientists have known that there are key

areas on the exterior cortex of the brain's left hemisphere, known

as Broca's area and Wernicke's area, that are critical for learning to

speak and understanding speech, Obler said. There are also many

other areas throughout the brain that process language.

Genes, neurotransmitters and brain regions involved in long-term

memory play roles as well, Paradis said. And a number of different

structures probably come into play when people speak a second

language compared to when they speak their first.

That would explain why brain damage from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's

or other disorders that affect specific areas of the brain can knock

out just a native language -- or just a language that was learned

later in life, leaving the other one intact. Aging can also bring out

an accent that was once unnoticeable.

NEWS: Bilingualism Good for the Brain(http://news.discovery.com/human/bilingualism-language-brain-function.html)Only in the last few years have scientists begun to zero in on brain

regions that seem to matter most in helping polyglots develop their

impressive skills.

In a 2008 study in the journal Cerebral Cortex, for example,

researchers found better language learning abilities in college

students with a larger Heschl's gyrus, an area on the left side of the

brain that processes pitch. But that finding only applies to learning

tonal languages like Mandarin, said study author Patrick Wong, a

THE MIND blowers

ADS BY GOOGLE

(HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/URL?

CT=ABG&Q=HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/ADSENSE/SUPPORT/BIN/REQUEST.PY%3FCONTACT%3DABG_AFC%26URL%3DHTTP://NEWS.DISCOVERY.COM/HUMAN/PSYCHOLOGY/BRAIN-

LANGUAGE-LEARNING-

120319.HTM%26GL%3DES%26HL%3DEN%26CLIENT%3DCA-

DISCOVERY-

DSC_JS%26HIDELEADGEN%3D1%26AI0%3DCDTUJJ68NUBGNN4S38APYJODWDI2LKD8BZDYTNRZAJBCBEAEG-

4FSDIGDUNSKJLGDYNXF2YKQCAABO9PV8GPIAQGOAWGQBJQBT9DB1SG5NO6HAKAELP7L7KJGUMNSUCJXASY9YGK7TLPFEY_LQCP50BW4TIDVSZSZRB9HMX1QASVDDGP4LRXW8YZYSVSO0HYBTMT9C5ZI3ALYJOTPKBEA71_HQLM8R7INPBV9X4PXPKHE6KWL1TCQSXN_QHXFCX_KTPEUY1WM0PZLOQFUJXRLIXL7JVNDY-

CDXLM2SOGGAYAHXAYQDQ%26AI1%3DCAF-

QJ68NUBGNN4S38APYJODWDJIIKAQDMNK5THF9ZJBRQHACIPUH7A4OA1CX1_UOBWDVXDMCKAMGAFJZ184DYAEBQQLUY0W6OB22PQGDAAOELWFP0PHK0TK37ODOOAQS_SVUSMA6Y1K5YNDQXJ3KARTMS8URJ-

WOI_NQHDHOJ1WZOXLFV2GZFVBQXV0MY_GTFDBZLNIXWYJQDHTMXP0LLKJCAVKOHM-

RT5RVX-GOSZYVSG2LTX3HG_E-

(http://news.discovery.com/human/health/spontaneous-

combustion-kill-man-130220.htm)

THE // radar

DNewsStormtracker

(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Earth/Weather-Extreme-

Events/Hurricanes-Tornadoes-

Storm-Tracker-

Stormchasers.Htm)(http://news.discovery.com/earth/weather-

extreme-events/hurricanes-tornadoes-

storm-tracker-stormchasers.htm)

neuroscientist at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

In another study, published last year in the Journal of Neuroscience,

Wong's group found that good language learners had stronger

connectivity in the white matter of the auditory cortex, which is

part of the language network. And in studies currently in press, the

team will announce better efficiency in connections between

neurons as well as a genetic component to the whole system.

And it's not just polyglots who are providing clues, Obler added. In

her research on people who struggle with new languages, she has

found parallels with dyslexia.

Yet, even as research reveals biological clues in the brains of

polyglots or their opposites, we are probably not completely fated

to either excel or fail at languages. Our biology may simply

determine which strategy we should use to learn new dialects.

"You're not doomed just because your Heschl's gyrus is small," Wong

said. "The goal in our research program is to find predictors. And

once we find predictors, we can put people into the right kind of

training program."

But the field of neurolinguistics is still new. So for now, the process

of language learning in the brain remains full of secrets.

As Obler said, someone once "wanted to know how to make the

brains of merely normal learners as good as excellent learners. I

said, 'I'm not going to be able to answer that for decades.'"

RECOMMENDED FOR you

SETQTAVVNXBJEDERQS6YPITOKBCCQV3ZCCH-

VFDHGUIJJHGLPMDLBYUFSOHG1QP_IAYBGAFWPAGX%26AI2%3DCVGWTJ68NUBGNN4S38APYJODWDPGGVFCCOYUPKWLAJBCBEAMG-

4FSDIGDULQDQPWCYNXF2YKQCAABP6GM9QPIAQGPAU7LTDQGHBY-

QAMBQGSUAU_QKF7DOTBUH2IGBCZ-Y-

5IXRPJURNI12RGPCOCU0YZXRGP5AGJ-

DACOE4NVBM7GUW_YZL9UGRFXQXJ-

C0V1VMS2LFBKNB2G0ZE_QUWSNWC8O6EZ5G3MU9F4AIZPK-

YDAW1FCED8T5IROPMC9U3EEL5_6OVXXMF5E6RLMNCDND8YZQHVCV0S4L5EYVTQ8VNA-

IJFLKIBGGAB8HE2QO&USG=AFQJCNGPKCR2PU3IT1FECRBGDI-

GIZKJMW)

Learning Faster is Easy(http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?

sa=L&ai=CdTUJJ68nUbGNN4S38APyjoDwDI2Lkd8BzdyTnRzAjbcBEAEg-4fsDigDUNSkjLgDYNXF2YKQCaABo9PV8gPIAQGoAwGqBJQBT9DB1sg5NO6HaKAELP7L7kjGumNSucjXasY9ygK7TLPFEY_lqCP50Bw4TidVszsZRb9hmX1QasVdDGP4LRXW8yzYsVso0HYbTMT9C5ZI3ALyjoTPkbea71_hqLM8r7INpbV9x4PxPkhE6kwL1TcQSXn_qhXFcx_kTpEuY1wM0PzLOqFUJXRLiXl7JVNDy-

cDxlM2sogGAYAHxayqDQ&num=1&cid=5Gg3WZVKeN4L0Gu_c9DRI-YD&sig=AOD64_3QmU8lwWRLwp6ae_uUFkPmkl5Yww&client=ca-

discovery-dsc_js&adurl=http://www.eocinstitute.org/meditation_s/45.htm)

Meditation is key. Deep meditationwill make

you brilliant! Free Audio

www.EocInstitute.org

(http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?

sa=L&ai=CdTUJJ68nUbGNN4S38APyjoDwDI2Lkd8BzdyTnRzAjbcBEAEg-

4fsDigDUNSkjLgDYNXF2YKQCaABo9PV8gPIAQGoAwGqBJQBT9DB1sg5NO6HaKAELP7L7kjGumNSucjXasY9ygK7TLPFEY_lqCP50Bw4TidVszsZRb9hmX1QasVdDGP4LRXW8yzYsVso0HYbTMT9C5ZI3ALyjoTPkbea71_hqLM8r7INpbV9x4PxPkhE6kwL1TcQSXn_qhXFcx_kTpEuY1wM0PzLOqFUJXRLiXl7JVNDy-

cDxlM2sogGAYAHxayqDQ&num=1&cid=5Gg3WZVKeN4L0Gu_c9DRI-

YD&sig=AOD64_3QmU8lwWRLwp6ae_uUFkPmkl5Yww&client=ca-

discovery-

dsc_js&adurl=http://www.eocinstitute.org/meditation_s/45.htm)

Cursos y Másters Online(http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?

sa=L&ai=CAf-

QJ68nUbGNN4S38APyjoDwDJiIkaQDmNK5tHf9zJbRQhACIPuH7A4oA1Cx1_uoBWDVxdmCkAmgAfjZ184DyAEBqQLuy0w6oB22PqgDAaoElwFP0PHK0Tk37odooAQs_svuSMa6Y1K5yNdqxj3KArtMs8URj-WoI_nQHDhOJ1WzOxlFv2GZfVBqxV0MY_gtFdbzLNixWyjQdhtMxP0LlkjcAvKOhM-

Rt5rvX-Goszyvsg2ltX3Hg_E-SETqTAvVNxBJederqS6YpItOkbCCqv3ZCch-

VFdhgUiJjHglpmDLByUfSohG1QP_iAYBgAfwpagx&num=2&cid=5Gg3WZVKeN4L0Gu_c9DRI-YD&sig=AOD64_2fTO2WCFP23JwkK5xvJpYhKI3gtQ&client=ca-

discovery-dsc_js&adurl=http://www.escueladenegociosydireccion.com/programas-

formativos)

Escuela de Negocios y DireccionMaster

Profesional ¡Contáctanos!

Escueladenegociosydireccion.com

(http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?

sa=L&ai=CAf-

QJ68nUbGNN4S38APyjoDwDJiIkaQDmNK5tHf9zJbRQhACIPuH7A4oA1Cx1_uoBWDVxdmCkAmgAfjZ184DyAEBqQLuy0w6oB22PqgDAaoElwFP0PHK0Tk37odooAQs_svuSMa6Y1K5yNdqxj3KArtMs8URj-

WoI_nQHDhOJ1WzOxlFv2GZfVBqxV0MY_gtFdbzLNixWyjQdhtMxP0LlkjcAvKOhM-

Rt5rvX-Goszyvsg2ltX3Hg_E-

SETqTAvVNxBJederqS6YpItOkbCCqv3ZCch-

VFdhgUiJjHglpmDLByUfSohG1QP_iAYBgAfwpagx&num=2&cid=5Gg3WZVKeN4L0Gu_c9DRI-

YD&sig=AOD64_2fTO2WCFP23JwkK5xvJpYhKI3gtQ&client=ca-

discovery-

dsc_js&adurl=http://www.escueladenegociosydireccion.com/programas-

formativos)

Learn German Online

(http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?

sa=L&ai=CVgWTJ68nUbGNN4S38APyjoDwDPGgvfcCoYuPkWLAjbcBEAMg-

4fsDigDULqDqPwCYNXF2YKQCaABp6Gm9QPIAQGpAu7LTDqgHbY-qAMBqgSUAU_Qkf7dOTbuh2igBCz-y-

5IxrpjUrnI12rGPcoCu0yzxRGP5agj-

dAcOE4nVbM7GUW_YZl9UGrFXQxj-

C0V1vMs2LFbKNB2G0zE_QuWSNwC8o6Ez5G3mu9f4aizPK-yDaW1fceD8T5IROpMC9U3EEl5_6oVxXMf5E6RLmNcDND8yzqhVCV0S4l5eyVTQ8vnA-

IJFLKIBgGAB8He2Qo&num=3&cid=5Gg3WZVKeN4L0Gu_c9DRI-

YD&sig=AOD64_2BDr80nlFjTBskywATMpHK79v7SA&client=ca-

discovery-dsc_js&adurl=http://www.myngle.com)

Individual live online lessons -your choice of

time and teacher

www.Myngle.com

(http://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?

sa=L&ai=CVgWTJ68nUbGNN4S38APyjoDwDPGgvfcCoYuPkWLAjbcBEAMg-

4fsDigDULqDqPwCYNXF2YKQCaABp6Gm9QPIAQGpAu7LTDqgHbY-

qAMBqgSUAU_Qkf7dOTbuh2igBCz-y-

5IxrpjUrnI12rGPcoCu0yzxRGP5agj-

dAcOE4nVbM7GUW_YZl9UGrFXQxj-

(/games/discovernator-crazy-amazing-facts.htm)

(/Games/Discovernator-Crazy-Amazing-Facts.Htm)

BLOG

Does Fear Drive Kids'

Paranormal

Experiences?(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Psychology/Kids-Paranormal-Experiences-130218.Htm)

GALLERY

Faces Of Our Ancestors

(/Human/Evolution/Early-Human-Ancestors-Faces.Htm )

ARTICLE

Magic Trick Offers

Insight Into The Brain

(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Psychology/Magic-Reveals-Neuroscience-130212.Htm)

BLOG

Wichcraft Belief In

Malawi Sparks

Violence

(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Psychology/Norway-Helps-Effort-To-Reduce-Witchcraft-Belief-In-Africa-130207.Htm)

ARTICLE

Does The Brain Have

An Evil 'Dark Patch'?

(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Psychology/Does-The-Brain-Have-An-Evil-Dark-Patch-130207.Htm)

ARTICLE

Why We're All Above

Average

(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Psychology/Why-Were-All-Above-Average-130207.Htm)

ARTICLE

Did Prayer Save

5-Year-Old Hostage?

(Http://News.Discovery.Com/Human/Psychology/Did-Prayer-Save-5-Year-Old-Hostage-130205.Htm)

POST A COMMENT