Recent Study Revealed the Long-Term Impact of Reading A Book Every Week
These will NOT surprise you
Reading alters your brain, especially your left temporal lobe, an area dedicated to memory.
A study found that connections in your left temporal cortex grow significantly after a month of regular reading.
This helps you improve your vocabulary, reasoning, concentration, and critical thinking skills.
Here’s the science.
The Research
A study by Emory University used fMRI scans to visualize the long-term impacts of reading a book on brain areas associated with,
- understanding
- language
- learning
- memorizing and recall
- forming speech
- remembering verbal information
The participants had to read sections of the book “Pompeii.” The book was chosen because of its strong emotional narrative.
The participants’ brains were scanned using an fMRI before beginning the book assignment. They all had to read the book during the evening.
After five days, the researchers observed a heightened activity in their left temporal cortex. These observations were made on mornings following the previous evening reads.
The strange part is that their brain kept a heightened state of connectivity as if they were still engaged in reading the book.
“Even though the participants were not actually reading the novel while they were in the scanner, they retained this heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex, an area of the brain associated with receptivity for language.
We call that a ‘shadow activity,’ almost like a muscle memory.” — neuroscientist Gregory Berns
How to Capitalize On This
Most people would rather watch something than read a book.
It’s normal because reading requires more brain resources than binge-watching. So, don’t beat yourself up if you are not reading a book every week.
Here’s what to do instead.
- Find an interesting book (fiction, non-fiction, etc.).
- Make a pact to read two pages at a specific time of the day.
- Since the research shows that reading before bedtime carries over the next day, you could associate bedtime with reading two pages.
- It’s highly recommended to use a paperback book when reading before bedtime.
- Keep a journal of what resonates with you as you read.
- Read your journal notes every 40 days.
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Sources:Reading Improves Your Mind, stories may change the brain