A lot has been written about how we read, but until now, there hasn’t been a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the latest scientific discoveries. In Reading in the Brain, Stanislas Dehaene synthesizes two decades of research to bring us a revolutionary new understanding of reading and the brain.
Drawing on the latest neuroimaging techniques, Dehaene shows how reading has evolved from an ancient brain system for recognizing objects and faces into a complex network for extracting meaning from symbols. He reveals how different reading strategies are deployed in different languages, how they emerge during development, and how they can sometimes go awry, as in dyslexia. He also describes the brain changes that occur when we learn to read, and how reading can rewire our brains and change our consciousness.
With clarity and wit, Reading in the Brain is a tour de force that will forever change the way we think about reading.
How does the brain read?
This is a question that has puzzled scientists for centuries. In the past, many different theories were proposed, but it was only with the advent of neuroimaging techniques in the past few decades that we have been able to start to answer this question with any degree of certainty.
The latest scientific discoveries show that reading is a complex brain process that involves multiple brain regions. These regions work together to extract meaning from symbols (such as letters and words) and convert them into meaningful language.
Drawing on the latest neuroimaging techniques, Stanislas Dehaene shows how reading has evolved from an ancient brain system for recognizing objects and faces into a complex network for extracting meaning from symbols. He reveals how different reading strategies are deployed in different languages, how they emerge during development, and how they can sometimes go awry, as in dyslexia. He also describes the brain changes that occur when we learn to read, and how reading can rewire our brains and change our consciousness.
With clarity and wit, Reading in the Brain is a tour de force that will forever change the way we think about reading.
Other related questions:
Is reading on Kindle good for your brain?
There isn’t a ton of research on the topic, but what exists suggests that reading on Kindle is not bad for your brain. In fact, one study found that reading on Kindle can actually improve reading comprehension.
Which is better reading in print or on screen?
Some people prefer reading in print because they can physically hold the book in their hands and flip through the pages. Others prefer reading on screen because they can adjust the font size and background color to suit their preferences, and they can carry a digital library with them wherever they go.
What does modern scientific research tell us about how the brain learns to read?
There is a great deal of scientific research that has been conducted on how the brain learns to read. This research has shown that the brain uses a number of different strategies to learn to read, and that different people may learn to read in different ways. However, some general conclusions that can be drawn from this research are that the brain learns to read by recognising patterns of letters and words, and by learning to associate these patterns with the sounds of spoken language. The brain also seems to use a number of different brain regions when learning to read, and these regions may work together in different ways depending on the individual.
What does reading on screen do to your brain?
There is no definitive answer to this question as the research on the matter is ongoing and inconclusive. Some studies suggest that reading on screen can have negative effects on attention span, memory, and critical thinking skills, while other studies suggest that there is no significant difference between reading on screen and reading on paper. Ultimately, more research is needed to determine the full extent of the effects of reading on screen on the brain.
Bibliography
- Reading in the Brain: The New Science of How We Read …
- Reading in the Brain: The New Science of How We Read eBook
- Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human …
- Reading in the brain : the new science of how we read
- The Reading Brain in the Digital Age: The Science of Paper …
- Reading on Paper Versus Screens: What’s the Difference?
- Bionic reading – everything you need to know – Ebook Friendly