Foreign Language Learning in Older Adults: Anatomical and Cognitive Markers of Vocabulary Learning Success

Abstract

In recent years, foreign language learning (FLL) has been proposed as a possible cognitive intervention for older adults. However, the brain network and cognitive functions underlying FLL has remained largely unconfirmed in older adults. In particular, older and younger adults have markedly different cognitive profile—while older adults tend to exhibit decline in most cognitive domains, their semantic memory usually remains intact. As such, older adults may engage the semantic functions to a larger extent than the other cognitive functions traditionally considered the most important (e.g., working memory capacity and phonological awareness). Using anatomical measurements and a cognitive test battery, the present study examined this hypothesis in twenty cognitively normal older adults (58–69 years old), who participated in a two-month Italian learning programme. Results showed that the immediate learning success and long-term retention of Italian vocabularies were most consistently predicted by the anatomical measures of the left pars orbitalis and left caudal middle frontal cortex, which are implicated in semantic and episodic memory functions. Convergent evidence was also found based on the pattern of cognitive associations. Our results are consistent with a prominent role of semantic and episodic memory functions in vocabulary learning in older learners.

Enhancing Foreign Language Learning Approaches to Promote Healthy Aging: A Systematic Review

“…The findings imply that vocabulary learning in older age benefits from increased hippocampus volume and improved associative memory ability, but that the very beginning of foreign language learning does not result in discernible changes in brain morphology in old age. This is in line with another study by Fong et al ( 2022 ) whose findings also confirm that semantic and episodic memory functions in vocabulary learning in older learners play important roles.…”

“… Empirical and experimental studies dealing with the research topic, i.e., foreign language learning approaches among the older generation, such as Fong et al ( 2022 ) or Nilsson et al ( 2021 ). Peer-reviewed journal articles.…”

Le Petit Prince Hong Kong (LPPHK): Naturalistic fMRI and EEG data from older Cantonese speakers

“…The digit span forward task 9 measured the span of short-term memory. Participants were presented with audible random sequences of digits 0-9 in Cantonese and were instructed to verbally recall them in the same order (see Fig.…”

“…The verbal fluency task 9 involved participants generating as many words as possible within 60 seconds that fit into four randomized test categories (mammals, non-mammals, fruits, electronic appliances). Verbal responses were recorded and later scored by independent judges (see Fig.…”

Experimental methods to study late-life language learning

“…Closer inspection reveals an overall lack of significant positive change in behavioural studies (Ber ggren et al, 2020;Fong et al, 2022;Klimova & Pikhart, 2020;Ramos et al, 2017;Valis et al, 2019;Ware et al, 2017). This would suggest that language training does not impact neurocognition in the short term.…”