Research by the University College London has revealed that language learning alters the grey matter in the brain, an alteration likened to the effect of exercise on building muscle.

Researchers studied 105 Britons, 80 of whom are bilingual, analysing brain scans which revealed differing densities of grey matter, reflecting various levels of intellect.The results of the study, recently published in Nature magazine, show that early language learners have even more advanced grey matter than those picking up language skills when they are older.