They have better "cognitive flexibility".
他们有更好的“认知灵活性”。
Older adults who have spoken two languages since childhood seem to have better cognitive flexibility -- meaning, they are better able to go with the flow in the face of a new or unexpected circumstance -- than adults who only speak one language, according to a Journal of Neuroscience study. The study involved having participants complete a cognitive flexibility task; while monolingual and bilingual adults were both able to complete the task, the bilingual adults did it more quickly and certain parts of their brains used less energy to do so.
根据一则神经系统科学的期刊研究,年纪大的人中,从孩提开始就会讲两种语言的人似乎有更好的认知灵活性,也就是说,和只会讲一种语言的成人相比,他们在新的或者预期之外的情况下,表现得更加顺其自然。在这一研究中,两类人群都被要求完成一项考验认知灵活性的任务。虽然他们都可以完成,但会讲外语的人们完成得更快,而且他们大脑中的特定区域消耗了更少的能量。