Today’s digital age has impacted quality time that could be mindfully spent indulging in literature. Reading has many positive impacts on the brain and nervous system.
Reading activates a network of brain regions, primarily in the left hemisphere, which is generally associated with language processing and speech. To decode and comprehend text, the visual cortex, temporal, and frontal lobes work in collaboration. The visual cortex processes the ocular input of words. The temporal lobe maps the sounds of letters, allowing us to sound out words and understand the meaning of sentences. The frontal lobe activates our memory and allows us to retain and hold onto information. According to OEDb.org, “Research has shown that the act of listening to [or reading] a story can light up your brain. Not only are language processing parts of our brain activated, but experiential parts of our brain also come alive, too.” When reading about other’s lived experiences, the brain does not make a distinction between reading about an experience and living it, meaning whether we’re reading or experiencing it, the same neurological regions are stimulated. Have you ever read a novel and felt the emotion of the character within you? That’s due to authors creating stories in structures that encourage our brain to think in sequences. Psychologist and novelist, Keith Oatley, stated, “When we read, we can observe humans interacting with each other and the world around them, from a safe space. We can learn from their shortcomings, moral failings, and occasional rise to whatever we consider heroism. In fiction, we can identify our own selves and be reassured. We can also be introduced to ideas, perspectives, and experiences different from our own” (A Feeling for Fiction, 2005). Reading positively changes the brain’s white volume matter, the facilitator of communication between different brain regions.
Reading is a huge component in strengthening the brain. A study conducted in 2013 by Emory University in Atlanta, measured subjects MRI scans while reading a book. The study concluded that the deeper the individual immersed themselves into the story, the more areas of the brain were activated. Shockingly, the activity stayed elevated for several days after participants completed their novel. “Research out of Boston Children’s Hospital showed that reading can rewire your brain, create new neural networks, and strengthen white matter in the corpus callosum, which enhances communication between the two brain hemispheres. This allows you to process information more efficiently, helping you learn faster” (Kwik, 2023).
While technology plays an important role in daily life, it does not offer the mental stimulation, cognitive processing, and interpreting that written language or reading does. Technology has a positive impact on productivity, facilitating communication, and providing access to copious amounts of information, but the drawbacks are that it leads to overstimulation, reduces face-to-face interactions, and can hinder deep thinking and concentration. Technology can have negative effects on the nervous system, with major issues being heightened attention-deficit symptoms, impaired emotional and social intelligence, addiction, social isolation, impaired brain development, and disrupted sleep (NIH, 2020.) In contrast, reading engages our mind, reduces stress, and “can even relax your body by lowering your heart rate and easing tension in your muscles” (NAMI, 2020.) To get the benefits of stress relief from reading, create a daily practice by setting aside a realistic amount of time in your schedule to get lost in a good book. Reading can be performed solo or with a friend, family member, or book club. The extra serotonin boost when connecting with others further facilitates stress relief. While many read for enrichment and pleasure, the benefits of reading extend deeply into improving one’s health, brain development, and overall well-being.
In today’s world, many of us have multiple subscriptions to streaming services, online platforms, and apps that provide an escape and relaxation from our daily lives. However, studies have shown that excessive consumption of “trash television” can have many negative effects. It can impair sensory processing, hinder emotional regulation, and contribute to increased rates of antisocial behavior. Additionally, it can lower verbal abilities and normalize crude or violent behaviors, leading to detrimental outcomes in both mental and social wellbeing. There’s no denial that this is many’s preferred method of relaxation after work. After reading this newsletter, our hope is that there’s inspiration to incorporate reading into your daily life.
In conclusion, the benefits of reading are so exponential that there’s no reason to not embrace it and enhance your life in the process! Over time, it can even help protect against cognitive decline as it keeps the brain active and challenged. Ultimately, making reading a regular part of life is one of the most powerful ways to boost brain health and sharpen intellect.
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