Imagine fighting evil wizards with Harry Potter or slaying monsters with Percy Jackson. Reading a new book, especially fiction, can be exciting, suspenseful, and thrilling. Fantasies give us a chance to escape reality for a while. Like TV and video games, reading a book is a form of entertainment. Often, people do not see it as entertainment. Some people only read books in school, when it is required. 42% of college graduates will never read another novel after college. However, reading fiction, at any age, is beneficial, not just with education and academics, but with brain function and emotions as well.
Through different brain stimulations, readers are able to identify with characters, on both a physical and mental level. This is because reading fiction improves brain function including connectivity and theory of mind. Peeking into neuroanatomy and neuroscience, specific parts of the brain are at work when reading a novel. Those are the left temporal cortex and the central sulcus. The left temporal cortex is the part of your brain that is in charge of processing language. It also controls recognition and memory. The central sulcus is what controls sensations. It connects motor and sensory areas of the brain. When processing a story, brain networks become active and enhance the connectivity between the left temporal cortex and central sulcus. The enhancement and activity in the brain don’t just last while a person is reading. Studies have observed lasting effects up to five days reading. The affected left temporal cortex is what allows readers to feel transported into the protagonist’s body. The neurons in the body that would be activated when doing a physical activity are activated by reading about a character’s actions. For example, if a character jumps, the neurons in the reader activate as if they were jumping.
Readers are put in the character’s shoes mentally because reading improves the theory of mind of readers. The theory of mind is the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others. This is where perspectives come from. By reading, people better understand others’ perspectives. Reading increases the level of empathy and compassion people can understand and feel for one another. Emotions, intents, desires, and beliefs are better understood when the theory of mind is more enhanced. Readers tend to be more open-minded than nonreaders.
Additionally, reading has a few other benefits. Reading relaxes the mind and body. According to a study done by the University of Sussex, reading for six minutes reduces stress by 60%. It also slows the heartbeat, eases tension in the body, and changes the state of mind. People who read before bed tend to sleep better as well. They also have a more extensive vocabulary. Reading slows down memory decline and mental issues in the future. It also has proven to make people happier.
Whether you are five, twenty-five, or fifty-five, you should pick up a novel and start reading.
By Sarahi
.png){kind=small}
Comments