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What are the benefits of reading?

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What are the benefits of reading?

The benefits of reading are evident in the formation of an individual's identity, which contributes to the advancement of society in this competitive time. It is the time of knowledge and possession of skills, as stopping reading means falling behind in life.


Some benefits of reading

Change of mind

One of the benefits and importance of reading is its ability to change your mind, as it was shown through magnetic resonance imaging that reading affects a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your ability to read matures, these networks become stronger and more complex.

In one 2013 study, researchers used fMRI scans to measure the effect of reading a novel on the brain. Study participants read "Pompeii" over 9 days. As the tension in the story increased, more and more regions of the brain lit up with activity. Brain scans also showed that throughout the reading period and for days afterward, brain connectivity increased, particularly in the somatosensory cortex, the part of the brain that responds to physical sensations such as movement and pain. 

Enhance the ability to empathize 

Research has shown that people who read fiction over the long term show a heightened ability to understand the feelings and beliefs of others. When you read a book, you become part of the story and build a connection with the characters you imagine with whom you feel pain. This, in turn, allows your brain to become more aware of the impact of different things on others. 

Researchers call this ability "theory of mind," and it is a set of skills essential to building, navigating, and maintaining social relationships.

Have a good vocabulary

Researchers have found that students who read books regularly, from an early age, gradually acquire more vocabulary. This is because one of the benefits of reading increases your exposure to new vocabulary that you learn in context, which affects many areas of life, such as college admissions and job opportunities. For example, you might use more specific names for different plants, animals, or adjectives.

 A 2019 Cengage survey showed that 69% of employers are looking to hire people with “soft” skills, such as the ability to communicate effectively. In addition, having a good vocabulary develops your ability to write better. Many successful authors gained their expertise by reading other people's work.

Fighting Alzheimer's

Reading books may help prevent age-related cognitive decline. Although studies have not conclusively proven that reading can prevent Alzheimer's disease, they do show that older adults who read and do math problems daily maintain and improve their cognitive function. 

A 2013 study by Rush University Medical Center also found that people who engaged in mentally stimulating activities throughout their lives were less likely to develop the plaques, lesions, and tangles of tau protein found in the brains of people with dementia. So, the sooner you start, the better.

Relieve stress and depression

In 2009, a team of researchers measured the effects of yoga, humor and reading on stress levels among health science students in the United States. This study found that 30 minutes of reading lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of distress as effectively as yoga and humor.

Not only does reading help relieve stress, but it also helps relieve symptoms of depression. Fictional stories may allow you to temporarily escape from your world and immerse yourself in the imagined experiences of the characters, as well as relieve the loneliness of a depressed person. As the English philosopher Sir Roger Scruton wrote, “The comfort of imagination is not a false comfort”.

Self-help books can teach you strategies that can help manage your symptoms.


Gain insights into the Astonishing Benefits of Devoting a Mere 20 Minutes Each Day to Reading from https://bookreviewsbyshalini.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-reading-just-20-minutes-a-day/


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