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From childhood, parents and teachers taught us that reading is good. we we grow up and continue to say this to our children. But than actually reading is really useful, what effect does it have on the brain?
Neural connections are amplified
In 2013, neuroscientist Gregory Burns from Emory University conducted research on twenty of his volunteers students. Using an MRI device, he recorded the state of the brain students before reading the book and after, and saw an increase in neural connections in the left temporal lobe – the area responsible for perception speech.
The capacity of our memory is increasing
When reading, several brain functions are activated at once: visual and auditory processes, speech analysis, phoneme recognition and a lot others. According to current research by Haskins Lab at Yale, reading, as opposed to watching or listening, gives the brain more time to stop, to think, process and imagine what is described. This elevated mental activity helps maintain a sharp memory, also how weight lifting keeps muscles in good shape.
The reader becomes a character in the book.
Of course you don’t turn yourself into Sherlock Holmes or Harry Potter, but your brain perceives the actions of the heroes as if they happen to you. The same Burns study demonstrated activity of neurons in the central furrow of the brain, responsible for the movement. That is, if Harry Potter runs away from the Shuttlecock De Mort, according to your brain, you are running with it.
The amount of white matter is growing
In 2009, scientists from Carnegie Mellon University proved that with improving reading skills in children, the brain is rebuilt and grows the amount of white matter that is responsible for communication and coordination between different parts of the brain. So reading is really useful for children – with the improvement of reading skills they are given easier development of all other skills.
Concentration ability improves
Due to the consistent narrative style of books, reading encourages the brain to think in order and thus spend more time to draw a complete story, and not rush to perceive every detail how it happens with movies.
According to neuroscientist Susan Greenfield, the internet has improved our short-term memory and multitasking ability. With one on the other hand, this is good, but on the other, it leads to distracted attention. Reading makes us think of a complex and multi-layered story, about how its elements fit together. Thereby The ability to concentrate for a long time improves.
A source
Time
