Neuro(b)log for Patients

Brain regions involved

The visual cortex, located in the occipital lobe, processes visual input and shows strong adaptive capacity. When visual input changes—for example after starting to wear glasses or during rehabilitation after injury to the visual pathway—neuronal networks and synaptic connections reorganize to improve or restore visual perception. The visual cortex is important for analyzing the shapes of letters.

The angular gyrus sits at the junction of the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. It converts visual information into phonological elements—that is, into inner speech and comprehension. Damage to this area can cause Gerstmann syndrome, which includes reading impairment (alexia), writing impairment (agraphia), difficulty with arithmetic (acalculia) and left–right disorientation; patients may also struggle to match words to objects.

Wernicke's area is key for understanding word meaning and for comprehension of spoken and written language; it is found in the dominant hemisphere, usually the left. Broca's area coordinates the muscles needed for articulation and supports the formation of grammatically correct sentences and fluent speech production; it is typically left‑lateralized in right‑handers, while localization can vary in left‑handers. These regions activate within milliseconds and cooperate to produce smooth decoding and interpretation of text.

Another crucial structure is the hippocampus, part of the limbic system. Its name derives from Greek words meaning "horse" and "sea monster," reflecting its shape. The hippocampus is essential for memory consolidation and for storing new word associations and concepts.

Neuroplastic changes from regular reading

Neuroplasticity is the brain's ability to reorganize structure and function by forming new neural connections and modifying existing pathways in response to internal and external stimuli. Regular reading induces adaptations in neural networks: connections between language and visual centers strengthen, synaptic density increases in regions linked to executive functions, and attention and working memory improve through enhanced frontal‑parietal networks. These changes can be detected with functional MRI.

Reading and cognitive reserve

Cognitive reserve refers to the brain's capacity to cope with damage from normal aging or neurological disease. It relies on neuroplasticity to compensate for loss of neurons and synapses. Readers with a rich history of reading tend to have higher cognitive reserve, which can delay the onset of neurodegenerative symptoms (for example, later appearance of Alzheimer's symptoms), improve adaptation to brain injury, and support better performance on executive function tests even at older ages. Formal education, stimulating occupations, regular mental activities (not only reading but also learning and puzzle solving), social interaction, physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle all contribute to cognitive reserve.

Printed books versus digital media

Reading printed books activates the cortex of the left temporal and frontal lobes and strengthens neural connections responsible for language processing and cognitive control, supporting effective long‑term memory encoding. Reading on screens divides attention: working memory must handle scrolling and navigation as well as visual stimuli, increasing cognitive load. Comprehension tests often show lower scores for digital reading compared with the same text in print. This may reflect weaker coupling between language and control regions and a "Google effect," where people are less motivated to memorize information because they rely on search engines or AI.

Reading in rehabilitation and practical recommendations

Reading can be used in neurorehabilitation to stimulate language and cognitive functions in patients with aphasia after stroke. It supports restoration of disrupted neural networks and improves comprehension of written and spoken language. Reading is typically part of a multidisciplinary program that includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy; it can shorten recovery time and improve patient independence.

Practical recommendations: read at least 20–30 minutes daily, vary genres to engage different neural networks, discuss books with others, and combine reading with other cognitive activities such as logic games and language courses.

Conclusion

Reading brings joy and mental stimulation and benefits mental health. A few minutes of reading can significantly reduce stress and provide an escape from daily routine. It expands vocabulary and broadens knowledge. Words are windows through which we view the world—enjoy the view.

MUDr. Petra Mištríková, MBA

References for further study:

Fischer-Baum S, Jang A, Kajander D. The Cognitive Neuroplasticity of Reading Recovery following Chronic Stroke: A Representational Similarity Analysis Approach. Neural Plast. 2017;2017:2761913. doi: 10.1155/2017/2761913. Epub 2017 Feb 8. PMID: 28270937; PMCID: PMC5320323.

Pınar Y, Bayat N, Yüksel B, Özkara Y. Reading and White Matter Development: A Systematic Review of Neuroplastic Changes in Literacy. Children (Basel). 2025 May 30;12(6):710. doi: 10.3390/children12060710. PMID: 40564668; PMCID: PMC12191555.

Seghier ML, Price CJ. Reading aloud boosts connectivity through the putamen. Cereb Cortex. 2010 Mar;20(3):570-82. doi: 10.1093/cercor/bhp123. Epub 2009 Jun 26. PMID: 19561062; PMCID: PMC2820698.

Marshall R. Reading fiction: the benefits are numerous. Br J Gen Pract. 2020 Jan 30;70(691):79. doi: 10.3399/bjgp20X707945. PMID: 32001468; PMCID: PMC7018408.

Chan CK. Can reading increase cognitive reserve? Int Psychogeriatr. 2021 Jan;33(1):15-17. doi: 10.1017/S1041610220001246. PMID: 33543693.

Turker S, Hartwigsen G. Exploring the neurobiology of reading through non-invasive brain stimulation: A review. Cortex. 2021 Aug;141:497-521. doi: 10.1016/j.cortex.2021.05.001. Epub 2021 May 27. PMID: 34166905.