What Happens in Your Brain When You Read? New Study Maps the Reading Mind

In a recent research published in neuroscience and bioobeheral review in April 2025, scientists concluded that our brain looks deeply about how to understand the written language. The study is conducted by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences. The findings of this research have been derived from 163 neuroimming studies to understand the nervous system behind reading deeply. This comprehensive analysis has shown how different areas of the brain work to process individual written materials, mainly in the left-hemisferic regions and cerebellum.

How the brain handles the letter full texts

Sabarina Turkar, Philip Kuhanke, Gesa Hartvigsen and Beatrice Phumagalli, researchers involved in the study, That specific brain got The areas become active depending on the type of reading. Researchers found that the single cluster of the Left OCCPIL Cortex was activated after reading the letters, while words, sentences and paragraphs activated the left hemisphere. When reading pseudo words, the unique fields were included, which has shown the inability of the brain to find the difference between the known and unknown language.

Silent vs reading loud: What is the difference?

In this research, a major discovery is the difference between overt (loud reading) and secret reading brain activity. Loud reading is triggered to areas associated with sound and movement, while silent readings include more complex areas. According to researchersSilent reading requires more mental resources than reading loudly.

Clear versus reading tasks

The study also revealed how the brain reacts to clear reading, that is, reading silent words and literal decision tasks. Like the cerebeller cortis and left orbitofrantl in the east, regions include strong activism, while the vested reading activated both sides of inferior frontal, along with insular areas.

Why does it matter

The study can help support individuals suffering from insight reading challenges. After knowing that the silent reading reacts differently to the brain, teachers and doctors can better adapt medical practices to treat disorders such as dyslexia.