Polyglots’ Brain Differences and What We Know So Far
January 07, 2025
There have only been a few studies that attempt to answer whether polyglots’ brains differ from others. Is there an innate advantage they are born with, or is their ability developed through effort and practice? Recent research has uncovered anatomical differences in polyglots’ brains, as well as differences in brain activity when compared to monolinguals. For instance, polyglots are known to use a smaller volume of their language network when processing a familiar language. However, the ultimate question of whether polyglots possess an inherent talent or develop their skills over time remains unresolved. Let’s explore what science has discovered so far.
The brain architecture
Is there an anatomical difference between the brain of a polyglot and a monolingual? Emil Krebs, a German hyperpolyglot who mastered 68 languages and studied 120 others, provides an interesting case. After his death in 1930, a postmortal study of his brain revealed structural differences in Broca’s region, a part of the brain crucial for speech production. This finding raises the question: was Krebs born with an anatomical advantage that made language learning easier, or did the intense study of languages reshape the architecture of his brain?
I know what you’re wondering: can anyone become a polyglot, or is it a gift some are born with?
Our brain changes as we master a foreign language
Research suggests that studying languages can physically alter our brains. A Swedish research team
observed a group of language learners studying at a rapid pace and compared their brain changes to a control group studying equally hard in other fields, such as medicine. After three months, they found that certain parts of the brains of the language learners grew, whereas the brains of the control group showed no such change.
These changes occurred in just three months. However, the long-term evolution of multilingual brain architecture remains undocumented.
Modern brain scanning methods: MRI and fMRI
Modern medicine provides tools like MRI and fMRI to study brain activity. MRI scans anatomical structures and creates a 3D model of the brain, while fMRI maps metabolic activity within these structures. This allows researchers to see which parts of the brain are active during specific tasks, such as listening to sounds or viewing images. By using these tools, scientists can measure how much effort polyglots and monolinguals exert while processing languages. How much brain volume do polyglots use compared to monolinguals? Keep reading.
Polyglot’s brain processes languages more efficiently—or do they?
A 2020 study compared fMRI brain scans of polyglots and monolinguals. It involved 17 polyglots and hyperpolyglots who were exposed to their native language. The results showed that polyglots used fewer neural resources to process language. In other words, they engaged smaller parts of their brains compared to monolinguals.
Ev Fedorenko, a cognitive neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told TheWorld magazine that polyglots process language more efficiently, requiring less mental effort than monolinguals. Another study suggests that polyglots excel at filtering out irrelevant information while processing language.
This evidence indicates that polyglots are not superhuman but rather dedicated learners who focus on using languages efficiently. They prioritize communication over perfection and embrace consistent practice. However, this remains a topic of discussion.
New Findings from 2024: How Polyglots Engage Their Language Networks
A recent 2024 study provides new insights into how polyglots’ brains process languages. Using fMRI, researchers analyzed 34 polyglots, including 16 hyperpolyglots who spoke 10 or more languages. They examined brain responses to native languages, non-native languages of varying proficiency, and unfamiliar languages.
The study confirmed earlier findings: polyglots exhibit weaker responses to their native language compared to non-polyglot bilinguals. Additionally, languages rated as higher proficiency elicited stronger responses, except for the native language, which showed a similar or lower response than a non-native language of comparable proficiency. Unfamiliar languages that were typologically related to the participants’ known languages triggered stronger responses than unrelated languages.
These findings suggest that the language network’s activity scales with the complexity of linguistic computations involved, such as lexical access and syntactic-structure building. The results also reinforce the idea that polyglots’ brains adapt to process multiple languages efficiently, engaging more when tasks demand greater linguistic effort.
To sum up
Existing research suggests that a polyglot’s brain is both anatomically and functionally distinct from that of a monolingual. Language learning induces changes in brain structure, and polyglots use their brains more efficiently when processing languages. However, the ultimate question remains: are polyglots born with an innate advantage, or do they develop this ability through their dedication to learning languages?
The newest 2024 study adds valuable evidence, showing how polyglots’ brains engage with varying linguistic tasks and demonstrating their adaptability to different language complexities. As research continues, we move closer to understanding the incredible capabilities of the multilingual mind. Until then, let’s celebrate the hard work and curiosity that drive polyglots to achieve remarkable feats.
Happy learning!
Hana Koubova
Language enthusiast
