New research suggests brain stimulation as the key to unlock new language skills in adults.
Brain stimulation improves language skills
We are to believe that language learning is much more effective in children as compared to adults. A language a child is exposed to becomes his primary language as he grows. Now, new research suggests that adults can still learn new language skills through a process called brain stimulation.
Using calculated electric waves to stimulate the brain, it unlocks a person’s potential in learning new languages even at an older age. The new learning is more effective when introducing foreign languages to the subject.
The study was conducted on 36 adult individuals whose native language is English. They were subdivided into groups exposed to different language learning scenarios.
- A group who underwent stimulation listened to two Mandarin tones with a high difficulty level
- A group who underwent stimulation listened to two Mandarin tones with a low-level of difficulty.
- A group who did not undergo the stimulation and listened to the different Mandarin tones
The results came in as follows:
- The group who listened to the Mandarin tone with a higher difficulty level showed no significant changes in their familiarity with the new language
- However, the group who listened to the Mandarin tone with an easier difficulty level proved to be around 15 percent better in identifying the tones.
As a generalization, brain stimulation is found to be beneficial in increasing memory and retention in adults. No research has been done yet in determining the effect of long term brain stimulation in adults.
