Key Takeaway:
Reading is becoming less popular due to the rise of screens and videos. A study published in Neuroimage reveals that reading impacts the brain, with readers with strong abilities having distinctive traits in the left hemisphere, particularly in the anterior temporal lobe and Heschl’s gyrus. The brain is adaptable, changing its structure as we learn new skills or deepen existing ones. Reading helps shape the brain in beneficial ways, and the decline in reading could have significant consequences for human cognition, understanding complex ideas, and empathy.
In a world increasingly dominated by screens and videos, the quiet practice of reading seems to be falling out of favour. Recent data from The Reading Agency reveals a concerning trend: half of UK adults admit they don’t read regularly, a jump from 42% in 2015, while nearly one in four young people aged 16-24 claim they’ve never been readers at all.
What does this shift mean for our brains and even our evolution as a species? A new study published in Neuroimage has uncovered fascinating insights into how reading impacts the brain, suggesting that our love (or neglect) of books could have profound implications for how we think and process the world around us.
The Anatomy of a Good Reader
The research reveals that readers with strong abilities possess distinctive traits in specific regions of the brain, particularly in the left hemisphere, which is crucial for language. Two key areas stood out: the anterior temporal lobe and Heschl’s gyrus.
The anterior temporal lobe is like a master integrator, connecting various pieces of sensory, visual, and motor information to form coherent meaning. For instance, when you encounter the word “leg,” this brain region helps you associate the look, feel, and movement of legs. This part of the brain is larger in proficient readers, enabling them to process words more efficiently.
Meanwhile, Heschl’s gyrus, home to the auditory cortex, also plays an unexpected role in reading. While reading may seem primarily visual, it heavily relies on phonological awareness—the ability to connect letters with the sounds they represent. This auditory skill lays the foundation for reading, especially in early development. The study found that readers with a thicker Heschl’s gyrus had stronger reading skills, reinforcing the idea that sound processing is deeply intertwined with the ability to comprehend text.
Size and Shape: Why They Matter
Interestingly, brain size and structure aren’t a simple case of “bigger is better.” The left auditory cortex, for example, has more myelin—a fatty insulating material that speeds up neural communication. While this efficiency allows for rapid language processing, it also compresses cortical areas, making them flatter but more extended.
This dynamic plays into the “balloon model” of cortical growth, which suggests that myelin-rich areas in the left hemisphere are thinner but more extensive than their counterparts on the right. Conversely, regions like the anterior temporal lobe, which integrate complex information, tend to be thicker, possibly due to a greater density of interacting neurons that process information more holistically.
Reading and the Malleable Brain
The human brain is incredibly adaptable, changing its structure as we learn new skills or deepen existing ones. Studies have shown that language learners, for instance, develop increased cortical thickness in relevant brain regions. Similarly, reading appears to influence the structure of areas like the temporal pole and Heschl’s gyrus. In other words, picking up a book and reading regularly can physically shape your brain in beneficial ways.
A Future Without Reading?
The decline in reading isn’t just a cultural shift; it could have significant consequences for human cognition. Reading nurtures our ability to interpret the world, understand complex ideas, and empathise with others. As fewer people engage with books, these cognitive and emotional capacities risk diminishing.
That cosy moment spent with a book isn’t merely a personal indulgence; it’s an act of preservation. By reading, we keep our brains agile and our species connected to the rich tapestry of human thought. So the next time you reach for a book, remember: it’s not just a story—it’s an investment in the future of humanity.
