Immersion in a Good Book Has Big Effect on Brains

“Phillips’ hypothesis was that the areas of the brain that regulate “paying attention” would be more engaged when readers were engaged in their Austen. What she actually found was much more. Though the full analysis of the data has not been completed, it appears that the whole brain seems to change when you’re absorbed in a book, rather than simply skimming it. Parts of the brain in charge of emotional response light up, as do, most unexpectedly, the brain’s motor controls and spacial reasoning areas, as if the reader were using them to spatially recreate the events of the story in their minds.”

Read more: Susana Polo, themarysue.com…