The works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth are "rocketboosters" to the brain and better than the other selfhelp books, researchers will say this week.
The
works
of
Shakespeare
and
Wordsworth
are
``
rocketboosters
''
to
the
brain
and
better
than
the
other
selfhelp
books
,
researchers
will
say
this
week
.
Scientists, psychologists and the English experts at Liverpool University have found that reading the works of Shakespeare and other classical writers has a beneficial effect on the mind, catches the reader's attention and triggers moments of selfreflection.
Scientists
,
psychologists
and
the
English
experts
at
Liverpool
University
have
found
that
reading
the
works
of
Shakespeare
and
other
classical
writers
has
a
beneficial
effect
on
the
mind
,
catches
the
reader
's
attention
and
triggers
moments
of
selfreflection
.
Using scanners, they monitored the brain activity of volunteers as they read the works by William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, T.S Eliot and other classical writers.
Using
scanners
,
they
monitored
the
brain
activity
of
volunteers
as
they
read
the
works
by
William
Shakespeare
,
William
Wordsworth
,
T.S
Eliot
and
other
classical
writers
.
They then "translated" the texts into more "straightforward", modern language and again monitored the readers' brains as they read the words.
They
then
``
translated
''
the
texts
into
more
``
straightforward
''
,
modern
language
and
again
monitored
the
readers
'
brains
as
they
read
the
words
.
Scans showed that the more "challenging" articles and poetry set off far more electrical activity in the brain than the modern versions.
Scans
showed
that
the
more
``
challenging
''
articles
and
poetry
set
off
far
more
electrical
activity
in
the
brain
than
the
modern
versions
.
Scientists were able to study the brain activity as it responded to each word and record how it "lit up" as the readers came across unusual words, surprising phrases or difficult sentence structures.
Scientists
were
able
to
study
the
brain
activity
as
it
responded
to
each
word
and
record
how
it
``
lit
up
''
as
the
readers
came
across
unusual
words
,
surprising
phrases
or
difficult
sentence
structures
.
This "lighting up" of the mind lasts longer than the initial electrical spark, shifting the brain to a higher speed, encouraging further reading.
This
``
lighting
up
''
of
the
mind
lasts
longer
than
the
initial
electrical
spark
,
shifting
the
brain
to
a
higher
speed
,
encouraging
further
reading
.
The research also found that reading poetry, in particular, increases the activities in the right side of the brain, an area concerned with "autobiographical memory", helping readers to reflect on their own experiences in light of what they have read.
The
research
also
found
that
reading
poetry
,
in
particular
,
increases
the
activities
in
the
right
side
of
the
brain
,
an
area
concerned
with
``
autobiographical
memory
''
,
helping
readers
to
reflect
on
their
own
experiences
in
light
of
what
they
have
read
.
The experts said this meant the classics were more useful than selfhelp books.
The
experts
said
this
meant
the
classics
were
more
useful
than
selfhelp
books
.
Philip Davis, an English professor who has worked on the study with the university, will tell a conference this week: "Serious literature acts like a rocketbooster to the brain."
Philip
Davis
,
an
English
professor
who
has
worked
on
the
study
with
the
university
,
will
tell
a
conference
this
week
:
``
Serious
literature
acts
like
a
rocketbooster
to
the
brain
.
''
"The research shows the power of classical literature to shift mental pathways, to create new thoughts, shapes and connections in the young and the old alike."
``
The
research
shows
the
power
of
classical
literature
to
shift
mental
pathways
,
to
create
new
thoughts
,
shapes
and
connections
in
the
young
and
the
old
alike
.
''
The works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth are "rocketboosters" to the brain and better than the other selfhelp books, researchers will say this week.  Scientists, psychologists and the English experts at Liverpool University have found that reading the works of Shakespeare and other classical writers has a beneficial effect on the mind, catches the reader's attention and triggers moments of selfreflection. Using scanners, they monitored the brain activity of volunteers as they read the works by William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth, T.S Eliot and other classical writers.  They then "translated" the texts into more "straightforward", modern language and again monitored the readers' brains as they read the words. Scans showed that the more "challenging" articles and poetry set off far more electrical activity in the brain than the modern versions. Scientists were able to study the brain activity as it responded to each word and record how it "lit up" as the readers came across unusual words, surprising phrases or difficult sentence structures. This "lighting up" of the mind lasts longer than the initial electrical spark, shifting the brain to a higher speed, encouraging further reading.  The research also found that reading poetry, in particular, increases the activities in the right side of the brain, an area concerned with "autobiographical memory", helping readers to reflect on their own experiences in light of what they have read. The experts said this meant the classics were more useful than selfhelp books.  Philip Davis, an English professor who has worked on the study with the university, will tell a conference this week: "Serious literature acts like a rocketbooster to the brain."  "The research shows the power of classical literature to shift mental pathways, to create new thoughts, shapes and connections in the young and the old alike."