Neuroimage October 2012 PMID 22750568

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning.

Johan Mårtensson, Johan Eriksson, Nils Christian Bodammer, Magnus Lindgren, Mikael Johansson, Lars Nyberg, Martin Lövdén

Mentions

102
Peak: 3 in Aug 2019
across 5 sources since Aug 2019

Extended reach

52,083
potential audience

Total likes

59

Video views

2,024

Mentions per month

Aug 2019 – Oct 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News63 articles
  • Blogs17 articles
  • X / Twitter9 posts
  • Facebook9 posts
  • YouTube4 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects strong agreement, with participants highlighting that learning multiple languages boosts brain health, as seen in posts that mention feelings of well-being and brain growth, using words like 'confirms,' 'makes me feel good,' and 'brain grows,' which convey positivity and reinforcement of the research's importance.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most discussions support the research findings, emphasizing that language learning positively impacts brain structure.

InterestHigh interest

The posts demonstrate strong interest, referencing brain health and language proficiency as motivating factors.

EngagementModerate engagement

While some discussions include personal experiences and comments on methodology, they mostly show surface-level engagement with limited technical detail.

ImpactModerate impact

Participants believe the study's findings reinforce the benefits of multilingualism, but relatively few discuss broader societal implications.

Abstract in brief

  • The study found that adult foreign language learning can cause physical changes in the brain, specifically in areas related to language processing, including increases in hippocampal volume and cortical thickness.
  • Interpreters who became more proficient showed greater brain plasticity, especially in the right hippocampus and left superior temporal gyrus, indicating the brain adapts more in these regions with better language mastery.
  • Participants who struggled more with learning the language experienced larger increases in gray matter in the middle frontal gyrus, suggesting the brain may compensate by reinforcing certain areas during challenging language acquisition.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Dr Gianfranco Conti
@gianfrancocont9 · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning - Johan Mårtensson (2012) The findings confirm structural changes in brain regions known to serve language functions during foreign-language acquisition https://t.co/qMtNeWkLK4

Feb 3, 2024 · 1 like · 2 shares · 18,682 followers View post →
Reiner 
@erlesen · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/JLxDUBqJ8m Language learning makes the brain grow, EU study suggests https://t.co/jgsVVk90Op Das Gehirn wächst, wenn man Fremdsprachen lernt❗️ https://t.co/c1eitJD3dt Bilingualism ⇄ brain reserve

Aug 7, 2019 · 1 like · 2 shares · 7,859 followers View post →
Francisca Martínez
@famartinez2001 · X

RT @erlesen: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/JLxDUBqJ8m Language learning makes the bra…

Aug 7, 2019 · 2 shares · 10,031 followers View post →
Reiner 
@erlesen · X

RT @erlesen: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/JLxDUBqJ8m Language learning makes the bra…

Aug 8, 2019 · 2 shares · 7,859 followers View post →
Reflection Connection
@leftboomer · X

RT @gianfrancocont9: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning - Johan Mårtensson (2012) The findings confirm…

Feb 3, 2024 · 2 shares · 2,977 followers View post →
selimelamouri
@selimelamouri · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/xBjqmDOmsz

Nov 27, 2024 · 1,591 followers View post →

All mentions

selimelamouri
@selimelamouri · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/xBjqmDOmsz

Nov 27, 2024 · 1,591 followers View post →
cecilia böcking
@cecilia_bocking · X

RT @gianfrancocont9: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning - Johan Mårtensson (2012) The findings confirm…

Feb 4, 2024 · 2 shares · 936 followers View post →
Reflection Connection
@leftboomer · X

RT @gianfrancocont9: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning - Johan Mårtensson (2012) The findings confirm…

Feb 3, 2024 · 2 shares · 2,977 followers View post →
Dr Gianfranco Conti
@gianfrancocont9 · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning - Johan Mårtensson (2012) The findings confirm structural changes in brain regions known to serve language functions during foreign-language acquisition https://t.co/qMtNeWkLK4

Feb 3, 2024 · 1 like · 2 shares · 18,682 followers View post →
kuuki
@ku_u_ki_______ · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning - ScienceDirect https://t.co/eq0iPojMb2

Dec 23, 2022 · 102 followers View post →
Jeff Junior ST Louis
@jeffjuniorS · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/SbIbJZXkDR Speaking 3 languages and learning a fourth one make me feel good knowing that my brain is healthy. How many languages do you speak?

Apr 25, 2020 View post →
Reiner 
@erlesen · X

RT @erlesen: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/JLxDUBqJ8m Language learning makes the bra…

Aug 8, 2019 · 2 shares · 7,859 followers View post →
Francisca Martínez
@famartinez2001 · X

RT @erlesen: Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/JLxDUBqJ8m Language learning makes the bra…

Aug 7, 2019 · 2 shares · 10,031 followers View post →
Reiner 
@erlesen · X

Growth of language-related brain areas after foreign language learning https://t.co/JLxDUBqJ8m Language learning makes the brain grow, EU study suggests https://t.co/jgsVVk90Op Das Gehirn wächst, wenn man Fremdsprachen lernt❗️ https://t.co/c1eitJD3dt Bilingualism ⇄ brain reserve

Aug 7, 2019 · 1 like · 2 shares · 7,859 followers View post →