What Does Reading Do to the Brain? The Science of Reading and the Neuroscience Behind It

We pick up that enchanting Tolkien, turn up the first page, and slip off into a world that we had never heard of or seen before. The hobbits come to us and speak about their weird ways; the elves speak and invite us to see their magical land where death is impossible; Sauron pulls us into a dark world where we shiver about the future of Middle-Earth. Such is the beauty of reading that it doesn’t let us think if we are even reading or not.

Reading is something that we all take for granted. We read books, newspapers, magazines, and even memes on the internet without giving much thought to the complex cognitive processes that take place in our brains while we do it. But have you ever wondered what exactly happens in our brains when we read? Let’s read this further as we learn about what does reading do to our brains.

The secret world of our brain when we read

When we read, our brains go through a complex process of decoding symbols and translating them into meaning. The visual cortex in our brain is responsible for processing the shapes and patterns of the letters and words we see on a page. As we read about the Elves or even Hannibal Lecter, the information is thus passed on to other parts of the brain responsible for language processing, such as Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area.

But this is not all; as we process words and sentences, our brains also create mental images of the scenes and characters described in the text. For example, when we read ‘apple’, our minds throw at us images of an apple as per our past knowledge. This is because the same part of our brain that processes visual information is also responsible for creating mental images. No wonder why reading a good book can also feel like we are watching a movie in our minds.

What do studies say about reading and its benefits?

Studies have found that reading regularly can increase the connectivity between different parts of the brain; this can improve our ability to think critically and creatively. You can easily observe this by talking to two different people with one being a bibliophile and the other not a bibliophile. And not only has this, but reading also increased our vocabulary and knowledge base, which can improve our overall intelligence and cognitive flexibility. Almost all intelligent people out there show an interest in reading.

Reading can also improve our emotional intelligence and empathy by allowing us to experience the lives and perspectives of others. When we read and live the lives of characters, we relate to them and learn about the hidden parts of being human. This helps us to better understand and relate to people in our own lives.

Neuroscience has also shown that reading can have a positive impact on our mental health. Research has found that reading can reduce stress and anxiety by promoting relaxation and reducing heart rate and muscle tension.

Just as we need to pick up dumbbells to train our muscles, we need to pick up books to train our minds as well. So, next time you curl up with a good book, know that you are not just entertaining yourself, but also exercising and strengthening your brain. And if you don’t have a book yet, look for an eBay alternative that sells amazing books & magazine at a fair price. Who knows, maybe you’ll even become a little bit more empathetic, creative, and super intelligent in the process.