A longtime resident of Denver, Colorado, Billy Woodward draws upon extensive experience in the commercial real estate industry in his role as a vice president of Transwestern. Outside of his work in the Denver commercial real estate industry, Billy Woodward pursues a diverse range of hobbies that includes playing the drums, collecting street art, and reading.
Getting lost in a good book can be a great way to pass the time while learning about new ideas and experiencing the lives of others. Recent research also indicates that reading can provide benefits to the brain, as well. Here are three of these benefits:
Increases Imagination and Empathy: While all reading serves to expand the imagination, a 2013 study showed that reading fiction such as novels and short stories has especially beneficial effects on imagination. The researchers also showed that reading fiction can increase the ability of the reader to put himself or herself in another person’s shoes, one of the hallmarks of empathy.
Improves Memory: Because reading involves neural exercise, the activity can help slow the rate of cognitive decline and improve memory. Additionally, researchers have shown that reading can reduce the brain protein beta-amyloid. This is good news, as elevated levels of beta-amyloid have been tied to Alzheimer’s disease.
Builds Brain Matter: In addition to improving brain function, research suggests that reading can actually help enhance the physical brain structure. A study at Carnegie Mellon looking at the effects of reading on children showed that just 100 hours of reading instruction helped the brain build the white matter responsible for transmitting information between areas of gray matter, where the information is processed.
Getting lost in a good book can be a great way to pass the time while learning about new ideas and experiencing the lives of others. Recent research also indicates that reading can provide benefits to the brain, as well. Here are three of these benefits:
Increases Imagination and Empathy: While all reading serves to expand the imagination, a 2013 study showed that reading fiction such as novels and short stories has especially beneficial effects on imagination. The researchers also showed that reading fiction can increase the ability of the reader to put himself or herself in another person’s shoes, one of the hallmarks of empathy.
Improves Memory: Because reading involves neural exercise, the activity can help slow the rate of cognitive decline and improve memory. Additionally, researchers have shown that reading can reduce the brain protein beta-amyloid. This is good news, as elevated levels of beta-amyloid have been tied to Alzheimer’s disease.
Builds Brain Matter: In addition to improving brain function, research suggests that reading can actually help enhance the physical brain structure. A study at Carnegie Mellon looking at the effects of reading on children showed that just 100 hours of reading instruction helped the brain build the white matter responsible for transmitting information between areas of gray matter, where the information is processed.
