"Reading," often taken for granted as a natural ability, is not something everyone can effortlessly do. The human history of reading goes back just 6,000 years. Reading is not an innate ability, and 6,000 years is an extremely short time for the abilities associated with reading to evolve. So how do humans read? How are you reading this text right now? We explore the secrets of reading from the perspectives of neuroscience and cognitive science, with the collaboration of various scholars, both domestic and international, as well as science communicators.
The moment our gaze falls on the characters, our brain engages in the magnificent task of "reading." Reading is a highly sophisticated cognitive process that requires almost all areas of the brain to activate and collaborate smoothly. A special region in the left hemisphere of the brain, located at the boundary of the occipital and temporal lobes, plays a crucial role in this amazing journey, responding exclusively to "characters," not images or objects. Let's open the box of characters inside the brain, the first clue to decipher the secret of reading.
The desire to obtain more information faster is insatiable. If there were apps to help us read faster, many might consider trying them. However, there are limits to how fast we can read. Our eyes accept and process information through "saccades" and "fixations." What differences in the quality of information might there be based on reading speed? Through experiments analyzing reading methods and comprehension based on reading speed, utilizing eye movement tracking techniques with the cognitive neurolinguistics research team, we seek answers.
When we read, we unconsciously convert characters into speech. Although this process occurs as naturally as breathing, phonemic awareness significantly influences reading. Difficulty in the phenomenon of "vocalization" can lead to reading challenges. By examining cases of dyslexic children in the United States and Korea, we can understand the importance of vocalization.
An "adult who knows little about baseball" and a "children's baseball team" engage in an extraordinary match. Through a reproduction experiment based on reading, which team do you think will win? Let's confirm through psychological experiments how background knowledge influences literacy. Reading is not just about recognizing and deciphering characters. It is completed when one thoroughly understands and comprehends the meaning and intent of the text, utilizing one's background knowledge and worldly knowledge.
Add to playlist
