Researchers let people read naturally while they recorded brain waves and tracked eye gaze. They used an EEG cap to record brain activity and a camera system to follow the eyes. This let them study reading in a realistic way.
In the experiment, participants read many sentences one at a time and pressed a button to continue. The team changed some upcoming words so they were expected, slightly altered, or unexpected. The data showed that when people skipped words, their brains often already registered those words and noticed if a word was irregular.
The researchers say these findings could help reading instruction and support people with reading difficulties.
Difficult words
- researcher — a person who studies a topic carefullyResearchers
- brain wave — electrical activity measured on the headbrain waves
- eye gaze — the direction where a person looks
- participant — a person who takes part in a studyparticipants
- skip — to not read a word or partskipped
- register — notice or record in the brainregistered
- irregular — not normal or not following the usual pattern
- finding — results from a study or experimentfindings
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever skipped a word when reading? What happened?
- How could these findings help people with reading difficulties?
- Do you think it is useful to record brain activity while reading? Why or why not?
Related articles
People with AMD Judge Car Arrival Times Like Others
A virtual reality study compared adults with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and adults with normal vision. Both groups judged vehicle arrival times similarly; vision and sound were used together, and a multimodal benefit did not appear.
Targeting a brain circuit to reduce opioid relapse
Researchers at Washington State University found that lowering activity in a specific brain connection cut heroin-seeking in a preclinical model. The study identifies a pathway between the prelimbic cortex and the paraventricular thalamus and tests two ways to reduce its activity.
Nasal spray reverses signs of brain aging in models
Researchers developed a nasal spray that delivers extracellular vesicles with microRNAs to the brain. In preclinical models it reduced inflammation, restored neuronal mitochondria and improved memory, but human tests are still needed.
Damage to Iranian universities and research after airstrikes
Airstrikes have damaged many Iranian universities, campuses and laboratories. UNESCO and scientists warn that online classes cannot replace lab training and that the attacks could harm research and students' future careers.