Reading can change the brain.

cross-posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/17499284

Brain structure can tell us a lot about reading skills. Importantly, though, the brain is malleable — it changes when we learn a new skill or practice an already acquired one.

For instance, young adults who studied language intensively increased their cortical thickness in language areas. Similarly, reading is likely to shape the structure of the left Heschl’s gyrus and temporal pole. So, if you want to keep your Heschl’s thick and thriving, pick up a good book and start reading.

[…] it’s worth considering what might happen to us as a species if skills like reading become less prioritised. Our capacity to interpret the world around us and understand the minds of others would surely diminish. In other words, that cosy moment with a book in your armchair isn’t just personal – it’s a service to humanity.

  • CitizenKong@lemmy.world
    161·
    14 days ago

    Interesting article. I would really like to know of there is also a difference between people reading visually and those consuming audiobooks. I know several people that don’t read books anymore but listen to audiobooks a lot.

    • Warl0k3@lemmy.world
      9·
      14 days ago

      I’ve only seen one study on this, but iirc it found that people who listened to to audiobooks only displayed the same degree of neurological engagement when they were able to focus on the audio. Passive listeners appeared to have similar reactions to those just watching television.

    • grrgyle@slrpnk.net
      2·
      14 days ago

      I just want to know how people mentally process audio without having to rewind every five minutes. I find it exhausting if I’m listening to something complex that I actually care about.

      I feel like serial audiobookers must have crazy multitasking abilities.

      Podcasts while doing cardio is about my comfort limit.

      • CitizenKong@lemmy.world
        2·
        14 days ago

        I consume audio books the same as books so without any distraction. Mostly to be able to fall asleep since I suffer from tinnitus.

      • Bobby Turkalino@lemmy.yachts
        2·
        14 days ago

        I’m sorta with you, I listen to audiobooks during the longish drives that I make on a regular basis and I can’t turn them on until I’m on the interstate where not as much attention is required. Even then, I can only seem to handle fiction and biographies. All other nonfiction… yeah, I constantly need to rewind. So I save nonfiction for text reading