The structure of the brain depends on the literacy

Learning to read and write changes the structure of the brain, increasing the density of gray and white matter in some of its divisions. On this claim the authors of the study, published in the journal Nature.

Manuel Carreras from the Basque Center for the Study of consciousness, brain and language and his colleagues from Colombia and the UK were able to first explore the effect, which provides literacy in the human brain. The study was conducted on a group of Colombian guerrillas, literate only upon reaching adulthood.

Until now, scientists could not identify the brain regions responsible for reading and writing skills, since most people already possess these skills as adults and children for research purposes is not suitable, since in addition to literacy, they also learn many skills at once.

The work of researchers compared the tomogram of the brain made by the method of functional magnetorezonansnoy tomography, at 20 the former guerrillas who have undergone literacy training, and 26 guerrillas, who have yet to master the instrument to follow. Thus, scientists have discovered brain region involved in the process of reading.

Area responsible for literacy, were concentrated in several areas of the left hemisphere of the brain. The density of gray matter, responsible for "handling" of information was increased after the teaching of reading in the areas already identified by scientists as the first area responsible for recognition of letters, convert them into sounds and meaningful words and phrases.

In addition, the researchers found that the density of white matter responsible for communication between the lobes, also increases as the training gramote.Osobenno greatly increased "contacts" coming and coming from the angular gyrus. Over the past 150 years, scientists knew that this area of the brain is somehow connected with literacy, but to establish its precise function of a half century, nobody could.

Thus, scientists have determined the function of the angular gyrus of the brain, had long been identified with literacy experts, which, as it turns out, is foreseeing the next letter or word as reading or writing of a word or expression.

This study will help scientists understand the causes of dyslexia - a violation in the brain, preventing people learn to read. Now scientists know that some reduction in the brain in dyslexia is its consequence, not a cause.

Meanwhile, last year the British neuroscientist Brian Butterworth has received evidence that the inability to perform mathematical calculation (dyscalculia) is a sign of the disease and are much more common than dyslexia - a violation of reading. Professor Butterworth examined 1500 children in Cuba, where dyscalculia recognized by medical authorities, and found that from 3 to 6% of children have signs of the disease. While the problems with reading have on average 2,5 - 4,3% of students children.

Previously, scientists from the Netherlands found: the assumption that the human brain decreases with age, is erroneous. In the study, researchers selected 65 men in the age of 69 who have not experienced memory impairment (dementia), stroke or Parkinson's disease. After nine years of observation, each observation was carried out brain scans using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). According to the results of testing, participants divided into two groups: 35 people have not seen the deterioration of mental abilities, and at 30 - memory impairment have not yet developed, but the cognitive abilities have deteriorated. By comparing these findings with MRI, the researchers concluded that in the first group had been a decrease in brain size, whereas the second group of seven sites that have an impact on cognitive ability, a significant reduction.