Few studies have examined the time course of second language (L2) induced neuroplasticity or how individual differences may be associated with brain changes. The current longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging study examined changes in cortical thickness (CT) and gray matter volume (GMV) across two semesters of L2 Spanish classroom learning. Learners' lexical processing was assessed via a language decision task containing English and Spanish words. Our findings indicated that (1) CT increased in the left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and right middle temporal gyrus (MTG) after L2 learning, (2) CT in the right MTG increased in individuals who were better able to discriminate between native language and L2 words, and (3) CT in the left ACC was correlated with functional connectivity between the ACC and MTG. These findings indicate that L2 lexical development is associated with functional and structural changes in brain regions important for cognitive control and semantic processing.

中文翻译：

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第二语言学习过程中大脑结构变化的纵向研究

很少有研究检查第二语言 (L2) 诱导的神经可塑性的时间过程或个体差异如何与大脑变化相关联。当前的纵向结构磁共振成像研究检查了两个学期的 L2 西班牙语课堂学习中皮质厚度 (CT) 和灰质体积 (GMV) 的变化。学习者的词汇加工通过包含英语和西班牙语单词的语言决策任务进行评估。我们的研究结果表明：（1）L2 学习后左侧前扣带回皮层（ACC）和右侧颞中回（MTG）的 CT 增加，（2）能够更好地区分母语的个体右侧 MTG 的 CT 增加和 L2 词，以及 (3) 左侧 ACC 中的 CT 与 ACC 和 MTG 之间的功能连接相关。