Reading, seemingly automatic, is a complex action involving multiple brain regions. Scientists have uncovered surprising insights into how our brains process words during reading.
Sabrina Turker, a neuroscientist at the Max Planck Institute, notes the limited understanding of language organization in the brain. "Despite a large number of neuroscientific investigations of language representation, little is known about the organization of language in the human brain. Much of what we know comes from single studies with few subjects and has not been confirmed by subsequent research."
The study confirmed the left hemisphere's association with language processing. It also revealed the importance of the cerebellum, typically associated with balance and motor learning. The right cerebellum is particularly active during reading tasks, especially reading aloud.
The left cerebellum is more involved in reading words than individual letters or longer sequences. The study also highlighted differences between silent and aloud reading. Silent reading involves brain areas associated with multiple cognitive demands, while reading aloud activates auditory and motor areas more.
The meta-analysis collected data from 163 experiments using brain scans of over 3,000 adults. Experiments covered various reading activities and languages, from single letters to complete texts, read silently and aloud. Researchers conclude that reading involves phonological processing: the brain's ability to organize sounds and generate meaning from them.
Reading is a series of unique combinations of activations in various brain regions. This study reveals the intricate nature of what seems like a simple activity.