The digital age has altered how we read. According to a study by the Pew Research Center, a majority of Americans is reading fewer books than they did forty years ago. The study found that just 31% of Americans have read at minimum one novel each year. This represents an increase of 10% in reading habits overall. Why are people less reading?
It might seem a bit simplistic to talk about how technology is advancing, however, the advent of streaming apps, social media as well as access to the Internet has been a welcomed diverting experience for many who feel overwhelmed and overloaded. There are many digital sources for everyone to read news, stories, and other reading materials that compress content into bite-sized chunks.
Research shows that the average time spent reading on the internet is around 55 seconds, but that’s not sufficient to fully appreciate the incredible brain benefits that reading provides.
1. Boosts Mental Power
Reading stimulates your brain. A study conducted in 2013 by Emory University measured readers’ MRI scans while they read books. The more deeply readers absorbed in the book, the more regions of their brains became stimulated. And, perhaps more surprisingly the activity was up for a long time after the participants had finished reading. The more you study, the more powerful the complex networks of activity get.
The findings of these researchers led to them looking to discover why the motor and somatosensory cortex — the part of your brain that reacts to sensations, movement, and pain — remained active after the end of a book. The researchers believe that reading puts your brain into that of the character which alters the activity of these areas.
The research conducted by Boston Children’s Hospital showed that reading can help rewire your brain build new neural networks and increase the amount of white matter in the corpus callosum. This increases interaction between both hemispheres of your brain. This helps you absorb information more effectively which helps you learn faster.
The researchers also discovered that reading improves your auditory and visual comprehension, especially when you’re listening to a person reading aloud. A study from 2011 confirmed these findings, revealing that although starting the habit of reading in the early years of a child is the ideal time however, you can benefit from these benefits to your brain at any time.
2. Lessens Stress
According to a study from 2009 conducted by Sussex University, reading reduces the stress levels of your body by as much as 68 percent. Within just six minutes of soaking up the pages of a book, the heart rate decreases and your blood pressure decreases and your muscles relax. To reap longer-term advantages of studying, studies suggest that 30 minutes of reading each day significantly affects the physical manifestations of stress. It doesn’t matter what kind of book you’re reading–including audiobooks–as long as you’re able be focused on reading uninterrupted.
The act of reading to your child with you can help reduce stress and strengthen the bond between your child and parents. A study conducted in 2020 by the Journal of the American Psychological Association discovered parents that who read with their kids regularly between the ages of six to 18 months experienced lower levels of stress as well as a greater awareness of their children’s needs and were more tolerant of their children.
Reading with your children together strengthens the bond that you share with your children. In addition, less stress levels boost your mood, leading to a rise in other behaviors like tolerance, patience, and empathy.
The practice of reading every day will not only keep you grounded, but especially when you’re going through difficult times It can also become a cherished moment of bonding with your children.
3. Increases Your Understanding
In the age of digital, it’s not difficult to think that you only gain useful information through YouTube videos. However, according to American creator and writer Tomie dePaola, “Reading is important because if you can read, you can learn anything about everything and everything about anything.” A YouTube video may assist you in understanding the subject but they don’t permit you to dive deep into the depths of the subject.
While it might be tempting to think that multimedia could help or enhance learning, studies show that the positive effects of these teaching techniques are not as significant without reading as the primary teaching method. Furthermore, improved reading comprehension has been linked to higher scientific literacy.
The books are written based on years of experience that is difficult to summarize in a matter of minutes of content on video. Digital information sources can be useful and assist you in beginning your research, but to explore the depths of a subject and gain an understanding of any area, you must have the vast knowledge that reading provides.
4. Boosts Imagination and Creativity
Reading can help you create a new world of imagination. When you are reading, your occipital region is stimulated, which is the region of your brain that is responsible for processing information from visual sources. This is particularly beneficial when reading fiction because visualizing the characters and worlds that the author writes about can help you comprehend what you are reading. It’s like taking an abstract idea and making it tangible within your head.
A joint study in 2007 between Appalachian State University and Angelo State University found that undergrad college students who enjoyed reading for pleasure had greater levels of creativity, had higher ratings of their instructors, and were more eager to learn and achieved their academic goals faster. A study from 2009 showed that there was a significant correlation in the college population who enjoy reading as opposed to creativity than those who did not.
As you continue to read more, the more your creativity becomes and you’ll be able to apply your imaginative visualization skills across other aspects of your daily life. Furthermore, the occipital region is also involved in decision-making and the more you use this brain area the better your decision-making abilities will become.
5. Boosts Memory
A strong memory is a resource in today’s fast-paced society. If you aren’t able to recall important details like names of clients work assignments other activities after school, you could be wasting time, money, and most importantly, your relationships.
Research has shown that reading can improve memory by constantly stimulating your brain. You’re working on your recall of words while keeping your short-term as well as long-term memory active as you keep track of the storyline or information according to the kind of book you’re reading.
This is known as episodic memory but reading also helps strengthen the working memory of your brain, the capacity to keep the information you’ve accumulated in your mind when doing different tasks. Both kinds of memory diminish as you age, and research has proven that, in the case of elderly patients who read every all day for eight weeks demonstrated an improvement in both working and episodic memory.
This regular activity helps to keep the neural pathways healthy and can help reduce cognitive decline as we age. The greater the amount of books you read, the greater neural activity happens within your brain. This increases your brain productivity, while also strengthening the many pathways that run through your brain. These pathways enhance general cognitive function which improves your capacity to recall information.
6. Boosts Focus and Concentration
Technology teaches you to be distracted. Did you know it takes you around 23 minutes to get your attention back on track after becoming distracted? When you stop doing a task due to a reminder you’re boosting the reward mechanism within your brain, which makes it difficult to focus only on what you’re doing at the moment and on the next task and other tasks.
A 2015 Canadian study revealed that from 2000 to 2015 the average attention span sank from 12 seconds to just eight seconds. 77% of those aged 18-24 reported”The first thing that they look for when there is nothing distracting them is their phones, as opposed to just 10% of those who are over 65. Another study showed that children in elementary school who had higher reading comprehension were able to focus longer on their work and had a faster response time to visual stimuli.
If you take a moment to block out uninterrupted hours of reading, you’re putting on your concentration and focus muscles. The longer you remain focused on the book and you’re rewarded with your focus, not distraction. This can help improve your concentration which makes it easier to concentrate on your day-to-day tasks. Also, the longer you spend reading, the more you’ll develop your ability to pay attention, which will make it easier to concentrate on challenging tasks.
7. Expand your vocabulary
It’s more than just selecting the appropriate word. With more than a million words used in the English language alone, the ability to effectively communicate comes from knowing how to utilize the appropriate words in every circumstance. When you encounter terms you’re not familiar with when reading, you will be able to understand the context in which this word is utilized. This makes it easier to grasp the word quicker than trying to learn it, as it provides an example of how you can apply the word, not only an exact definition.
A 2015 from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association studied the vocabulary levels of students from kindergarten to 10th grade. They discovered that readers who were above average were significantly more likely to experience a higher rate of growth in vocabulary between the 4th and the 10th grades. Researchers from the Centre for Longitudinal Studies found that children who read to relax in their spare time knew 26 percent more words than non-reading peers.
Reading more books, you’ll be exposed to more languages is exposed to, expanding your vocabulary, one book at a time. Plus, the more words you master, the faster you’ll learn new words and it takes only fifteen minutes of reading each day to experience these wonderful advantages.
8. Boost your ability to communicate
Each book is a collection of writing and word choice strategies. They’re examples of how to express thoughts and feelings through body language, gestures, and conversation. Writing lies in the parietal region, which is activated during reading.
Your brain records the language style of the books you read. These help you improve your ability to communicate clearly whether in written or verbal forms. However, it also provides diverse perspectives. You can look at things from a different perspective. You are exposed to new ideas and discover new ways of seeing the world. This empathy allows you to interact more effectively with those who surround you.
The stories or reading subjects that inspire you can also promote the sharing of experiences as you seek willing to talk about your experience. You could join a book group where you’ll meet new people or find that you enjoy reading with a colleague who is new to you. The more people that you interact with, the stronger your communication abilities become.
9. Enhance your psychological health
Mental health is now more of a concern in modern society. Anxiety and depression continue to increase because people feel disconnected from family and friends in an age of digital.
Reading makes you feel a part of the world uniquely. It is possible to discover characters experiencing the same struggles you face and that makes you feel more visible and less lonely. Research suggests that connecting with someone who is struggling with similar issues reduces feelings of isolation and loneliness among people. It is also possible to meet other readers of the same genre as you enjoy and build friendships through your shared interests. Book clubs and reading groups are great ways to do this.
It increases empathy, which enhances the ability of you to be able to connect with others beyond the fictional world. The research continues to show that readers are more compassionate and better social skills, have better perspectives, and a better comprehension of human nature.
A new field of study is the field of bibliotherapy. Under the direction of a psychotherapist or a mental health professional, it is possible to read, reflect, and discuss different works of literature individually or as part of a group. Studies suggest that certain patients are more benefited by cognitive-behavioral therapy it is combined with the use of bibliotherapy. Researchers have discovered that bibliotherapy reduces depression symptoms among patients undergoing surgery, and enhances cognitive function in those suffering from dementia and psychosis.
10. Reading for Pleasure
If you ask any bookworm, they’ll tell you that reading is addictive. Each when you close the book you think of the story that triggers an increase in dopamine. Studies have proven that anticipation can be a powerful motivational factor, and the brain produces more dopamine when you’re anticipating a certain event than the actual event. This is why so many book lovers want to wind down their workday and relax to read a book.
When it comes to addictions it is a harmless one and offers numerous opportunities to grow and improve professionally and personally. Just as puzzles are beneficial for our brains, reading helps keep your brain engaged and active which results in better mental health. Compare that to digital entertainment options such as movies, social media, or television, and you’ll find that reading is the most healthy option.
Conclusion
It is a habit that will increase your life span by reducing stress enhancing your mental well-being and forming new neural pathways that help you develop empathy, increasing your capacity to communicate, and also providing you with healthful entertainment. There’s a variety of new activities in the world of technology but reading is just one of the very few activities which can extend your life. Within 15 to 30 minutes per day, you’ll be able to reap all these incredible brain benefits and get on the road to unlock the limitless possibilities in your opportunities.