How reading on screens is rewiring our brains
Dr. Maryanne Wolf says that reading isn’t something we’re born to do — it’s something we train our brain to do.
Wolf is the director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, and the author of “Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain.” She says we rewire parts of our brain and build new circuits as we learn to read.
But something interesting is happening as we use new technology for the process of reading: The circuits we’re building in our brain are different than those we build when we read books. And some of the implications are worrisome for our ability for deep thought.
Following other discussions for this week’s series on technology and reading education, Wolf joins us to talk about reading, new tech and their impact on the brain.
Click the media player above to hear Dr. Maryanne Wolf in conversation with Marketplace Tech host Ben Johnson.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
