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Linguists 'have different brains' 07.04.06

Gifted linguists could have a different brain shape and structure from those of other people, a study suggests.

Neuroscientists at University College London say they have more "white brain matter" in a part of the brain which processes sound. The brain of a linguist can also be less symmetrical than others.

Those involved in the trial - all native French speakers - were asked to distinguish between two similar sounds from different languages. Researchers tested the speed at which participants could process the information. Those who identified more than 80% of sounds correctly were then asked to listen to even more acoustically similar sounds.

Some of the fastest learners were able to tell these apart within a few minutes, while the slowest learners were only able to make random guesses at the less difficult stage after 20 minutes of training.

It is hoped the research may help us identify why some people have language difficulties.

To find out more about this study visit the BBC News pages.

 

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