Scientists just demonstrated that people who are good at reading have different brains

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The number of people in the United States who read for leisure appears to be steadily decreasing. Fifty percent of American adults say they don't read regularly, a number that has increased from 42% in 2015.

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, has found out.

I analyzed open-source data from over 1,000 individuals to identify distinct traits in brain anatomy among readers with varying skill levels.

People whose literacy skills were strong had distinct structures in two parts of the left hemisphere that are key for language processing.

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The other area was Heschl's gyrus, a fold on the top of the temporal lobe that houses the auditory cortex (the cortex is the outermost layer of the brain). Research showed that people with better reading skills tend to have a bigger area in the left side of the temporal lobe compared to the right. It makes logical sense that having a larger brain area focused on meaning would make it easier to comprehend words and, subsequently, to read.

to children’s reading development.

According to my findings, the variation in cortical thickness does not provide a clear distinction between individuals with and without dyslexia. Rather, it spans across the broader population, with a thicker auditory cortex associated with improved reading abilities.

Why size matters

as small processing units.

Instead of locating the precise point at which the vocal folds begin to vibrate.

While brain areas associated with sound processing on the left side of the brain may be larger in depth for individuals who are good readers, they are also wider (though far more expansive) compared to the corresponding brain regions on the right side.

This hypothesis was confirmed by recent research. The left hemisphere typically had larger, but thinner, cortical areas and a greater amount of myelin.

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It's clear that a person's brain structure can be very telling when it comes to their reading abilities. However, it's equally important to note that the brain itself is highly adaptable and can change over time as we acquire new skills or build on existing ones.

Along with this, reading is likely to shape the structure of your left Heschl's gyrus and temporal pole. So, if you want to keep your Heschl's gyrus thick and thriving, pick up a good book and start reading.

It's worth thinking about what might happen if skills like reading become less important. Our ability to understand the world and other people would probably decrease. In other words, curling up with a good book is not just good for you – it's also good for humanity.

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