How Stories May Change the Brain

Researchers at Emory University have detected actual changes in the brain that linger, at least for a few days, after reading a novel. The study, conducted over 19 consecutive days, focused on the lingering neural effects of reading a narrative. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as a means of identifying the activated brain networks, the results showed heightened connectivity in the left temporal cortex on the mornings following the reading assignments, with heightened connectivity also seen in the central sulcus of the brain. Importantly, the neural changes were not just immediate reactions and persisted during the experimental period. “Stories shape our lives and in some cases help define a person,” says neuroscientist Gregory Berns, lead author of the study and the director of Emory’s Center for Neuropolicy. “We want to understand how stories get into your brain, and what they do to it.” Click here to read the full article.