Fiction Is Good for You!
New York Times Article Explores
How Stories Stimulate the Brain
How Stories Stimulate the Brain
If you ever needed "proof" that reading a good book provides more than an entertaining interlude in your favorite comfy chair, take a look at Anne Murphy Paul's article "Your Brain on Fiction" in The New York Times.
Here is an excerpt:
"[Reading fiction] is an exercise that hones our real-life social skills, another body of research suggests. Dr. Oatley and Dr. Mar, in collaboration with several other scientists, reported in two studies, published in 2006 and 2009, that individuals who frequently read fiction seem to be better able to understand other people, empathize with them and see the world from their perspective. This relationship persisted even after the researchers accounted for the possibility that more empathetic individuals might prefer reading novels. A 2010 study by Dr. Mar found a similar result in preschool-age children: the more stories they had read to them, the keener their theory of mind — an effect that was also produced by watching movies but, curiously, not by watching television."
To read the entire article, click here.
