Final answer:
Children's adeptness in learning foreign languages compared to adults is due to a loss of brain plasticity and the completion of lateralization. Therefore the correct option is c) Both a and b.
Step-by-step explanation:
c) Both a and b. Children often exhibit a remarkable ability to learn foreign languages compared to adults, and this can be attributed to neurobiological factors:
a) Loss of plasticity in the brain by year nine of life:
- The brain's plasticity, or its ability to adapt and learn, is generally more pronounced in early childhood. As children grow older, there is a gradual decline in neural plasticity, making it more challenging for the brain to acquire new languages with the same ease.
b) The completion by the onset of puberty of the process of lateralization:
- Lateralization, the specialization of brain hemispheres for specific functions, is often completed by the onset of puberty. Before lateralization is complete, children may have a greater capacity for acquiring multiple languages simultaneously without interference. Together, these factors contribute to the observed proficiency of children in learning foreign languages. While adults can still learn languages effectively, the neurobiological advantages observed in children gradually diminish as they age.