Reading may seem like a simple task, but behind your eyes and the words on the page, your brain is engaging in activity that’s both complex and fascinating.
A new, comprehensive study from the Max Planck Institute sheds light on how the brain responds to everything from individual letters to full texts.
Reading starts in the left hemisphere
The study confirms that virtually all reading activates areas in the left side of the brain.
This is true whether you’re reading letters, words, sentences or full texts – highlighting the classical role the left hemisphere plays in language processing.
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Only one brain region is activated by letter reading
When we read single letters, just one specific cluster of neurons in the left occipital cortex (OTC) lights up.
This shows how focused and specialized the brain’s processing of visual language components really is.
Words and sentences require more brain power
As the complexity of what we read increases – from words to full sentences and texts – more brain regions become involved.
Particularly, the left temporo-occipital cortex shows increased activity.
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Pseudowords activate different areas than real words
Pseudowords – made-up words without meaning – activate different subregions in the brain than real words.
This mainly occurs in the left inferior frontal gyrus, which helps process unfamiliar language patterns.
Reading aloud versus silent reading
When we read aloud, the brain regions related to sound and movement become more active.
In contrast, silent reading relies more heavily on the brain’s “multiple demand regions”, which manage complex tasks.
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Explicit versus implicit reading
Explicit reading – when we actively read real or fake words – more consistently activates the left orbitofrontal cortex, cerebellum, and temporal cortex.
Implicit reading, such as judging whether a word is real or not, shows more bilateral activity in the inferior frontal and insular regions.
The cerebellum plays a role in reading too
Long thought to be primarily involved in motor functions, the cerebellum is also active during reading.
This suggests that reading involves not only cognitive but also subtle motor processes.
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Text comprehension engages the whole brain network
When reading entire texts, large networks across the brain become engaged – far beyond those used for single words or sentences.
These include areas responsible for memory, attention and contextual understanding.
The findings are based on 163 previous studies
This meta-analysis is built on the results of 163 different studies, making its conclusions both robust and comprehensive.
It provides an unusually detailed overview of how the brain handles reading.
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Could lead to better support for individuals with dyslexia
By mapping exactly which brain areas are activated during different reading tasks, the research could help shape future interventions for individuals with dyslexia or other learning challenges – ultimately improving their quality of life.
This article is based on information from Medical Xpress.