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Lighting Up Our Brains
The act of reading is generally thought of as how we cozy ourselves up on a cold or rainy day, how we tune out busy commutes, and how we connect through book clubs. It can make us feel uplifted and wistful, but also anxious and full of dread. Still, no matter what sensations the book might invoke in you, it's also incredibly healthy for your brain. An article on Healthline cites a 2013 study where “researchers used functional MRI scans to measure the effect of reading a novel on the brain […] As tension built in the story, more and more areas of the brain lit up with activity. Brain scans showed that throughout the reading period and for days afterward, brain connectivity increased.” Reading builds vocabulary, encourages empathy, and can help us stay mentally sharp as we age. Healthline also points to a 2009 study that discovered even just “thirty minutes of reading lowered blood pressure, heart rate, and feelings of psychological distress”. Check out these titles
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