Neuronal recycling: This is how our brain allows us to read

(Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati) Is there an area and cognitive mechanism in our brain specifically devoted to reading? Probably not. According to new research, underlying reading there is evolutionarily ancient function more generally used to process many other visual stimuli. We process letters and words similarly to how we do with any visual stimulus: we identify basic features as shape, size, structure. On the basis of the statistical frequency of specific symbols, we can recognise orthography, understand it and immerse ourselves in the pleasure of reading.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news