What Happens to Our Brains When We Read

I just listened to a fascinating NPR clip on the power of reading. It's short and absolutely worth a listen.

As we read, says the interviewer, "our bodies may be still but our brains are working hard to paint a mental picture." Such a position is more than a guess. Hard scientific evidence backs this claim and this interview briefly highlights that evidence, presenting a strong case for the publishing industry's continuing value.

This interview also hints that those who support gaming as the next and greatest form of "virtual reality," may have overlooked the simple power of written word. Additionally, as we turn so often to film and visually rich communication these days, often in place of reading books or even short stories, we miss the experience of imagination involved in the reading process. In fact, "language itself is a powerful form of virtual reality." When we read a book, the characters don't sit right there in front of us or pop up on a screen. Instead, we have to literally imagine them; guessing what they look like, picturing how they move, mentally crafting the very world they live in. That sure sounds like a brain hard at work!

Through their ability to capture and broaden our imaginations, stories stand as a powerful tool for human development. As Jeff Zachs, associate professor of psychology, states "when we tell each other stories...we can control the perceptual processes that are happening in each other's brains." That is pretty powerful. Now, i'm not one to dismiss the value of visualization-things like movies and magazines and paintings have their place-but I am supporting the argument that reading stories is important for all of society. In a western (and now often eastern) culture that increasingly turns to quick answers via a television screen, despite rising literacy rates over the last few centuries (I might add), remembering the power of written word is a noteworthy endeavor. And so, two thumbs up for NPR and Jeffrey Zachs.

*all quotes from interview, cited below.

To access this interview, please visit: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100109043