How Reading Benefits a Person’s Mental Health

The world’s first novel, The Tale of Genji was written in the 11th century by a Japanese woman. This 54-chapter story focused on a courtly seduction made history.

Almost 2,000 years later, the modern world is still obsessed by novels, even in an era where it is possible to find stories on modern devices or from quality apps like alKeyTAB. What many people wonder is, what are people getting from reading books? Is it only pleasure or are there benefits that go beyond enjoyment? The answer to this is a definite yes.

Reading books can help to improve a person’s mental and physical health. The benefits offered may also last a lifetime. Keep reading to learn more about the specific benefits offered by reading regularly.

Reading Strengthens the Brain

There is more research than ever that has indicated reading can actually change the mind. By using MRI scans, researchers have been able to confirm that reading is something that involves a rather complex network of signals and circuits present in the brain. As a person’s reading ability continues to mature, the networks will become more sophisticated and stronger.

Brain scans have also proven that during reading, and for the days after this, brain connectivity is increased. This is practically the case for the somatosensory cortex, which is the portion of the brain that will respond to specific physical sensations, such as pain and movement.

Increases a Person’s Ability to Empathize

When it comes to sensing pain, available research has proven that people who regularly read literary fiction, which are stories that explore character’s inner lives, have an increased ability to fully understand the beliefs and feelings of other people. This is something that researchers call the theory of mind, which is a unique set of skills that are essential to build, navigate, and maintain all types of social relationships.

Even though just one session of reading some type of literary fiction is not going to create this feeling, research has shown when someone does this long-term, their theory of mind is better developed.

Build Vocabulary

Something called the Matthew effect is in place when someone reads. This is an effect that sums up the statement of the rich get richer and poor get poorer. This is a concept that not only applies to money, but also vocabulary. Anyone who reads books on a regular basis, starting at a young age, will be able to develop a much larger vocabulary. A person’s vocabulary size may influence many different parts of their life, including scores on standardized testing, job opportunities, and more.

Reading offers more than a few benefits. If someone wants to enjoy the advantages offered by reading, they need to start today. Keep the information here in mind to help ensure that the desired benefits from reading are achieved. Being informed is the best way to ensure that anyone benefits from reading, sees the benefits here, and enjoys all the new opportunities that may open up when they learn about it.