A study by Spanish researchers published in the journal Nature, showed that learning how to read strengthens connections between different parts of the brain.
By studying Colombians who were learning how to read in adulthood, they were able to identify changes that occur in the brain during learning.
They compared brain ultrasounds from 20 Colombians who were learning to read to 22 Colombians who were illiterate and found that those who were learning to read had more grey matter in their brains. In addition, there was significantly more white matter in those areas of the brain used to process information.
This new study on how the brain functions during reading may help to understand learning disabilities like dyslexia.