Bundesweiter Vorlesetag: Was Lesen im Gehirn bewegt – und warum Vorlesen wichtig ist

The Bundesweite Vorlesetag (Federal Reading Day) on November 20th prompted questions about the impact of reading on the mind and why reading is important. Falk Huettig, a cognitive scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, explained that the brain has not evolved specifically for reading. Writing systems are a cultural achievement, with the first proper systems appearing around 5,000 years ago.

Evolution did not give the human brain dedicated regions for reading. Instead, it uses existing networks for processing visual information, which are then used during reading. The eyes take in the text, transmitted through the optic nerve to the cerebral cortex, where specialized regions work together to combine letters and connect them with language.

When reading aloud, the sense of hearing also comes into play. Huettig emphasized that learning to read is a developmental process that takes years. It changes the brain by evolving its neural networks. His team researched this in India, comparing illiterate individuals with readers. They found that almost all examined abilities improved through reading, including object and facial recognition, short-term and long-term memory, attention, and logical and abstract thinking. Reading also helps to recognize fake news.

However, not everyone finds reading easy. People with reading-writing weakness (RLS) struggle with reading and writing, with the effort required for reading being significantly higher than for those without RLS. The causes are unclear, but genetic predisposition may play a role. Specialized therapy can help, particularly in linking sounds to letters.

Huettig views reading as a matter of training. Those who read less will find it harder due to reduced familiarity. He compares this to strength training in a gym: those who read less will find reading more challenging as they are no longer accustomed to it. Just like using a smartphone or tablet, however, does not automatically mean that one is not reading.

Huettig noted that printed texts often prompt people to take their time and avoid distractions, while digital devices can easily divert attention with incoming notifications. The key is uninterrupted reading. But Huettig advises that gradually increasing the difficulty of texts is crucial, as staying with simple texts limits the improvement of language understanding and expressive abilities.

Early exposure to language begins long before children can read independently. Picture book reading enlarges vocabulary and improves language understanding, while fostering reading motivation and literacy skills. According to Huettig, children from less educated homes often face greater difficulties catching up during school years, especially if they are not read to at home.

Beyond the classroom, reading provides essential information in everyday life and work, and literature offers alternative thought worlds. For Huettig, regular reading is one of the most important measures for promoting children's linguistic and cognitive development.