(ROOT (S (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NNS works)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNP Shakespeare) (CC and) (NNP Wordsworth)))) (VP (VBP are) (UCP (NP (`` ``) (NP (NNS rocketboosters)) ('' '') (PP (IN to) (NP (DT the) (NN brain)))) (CC and) (ADJP (ADJP (JJR better)) (PP (IN than) (NP (DT the) (JJ other) (NN selfhelp) (NNS books))))))) (, ,) (NP (NNS researchers)) (VP (MD will) (VP (VB say) (NP (DT this) (NN week)))) (. .)))
The works of Shakespeare and Wordsworth are "rocketboosters" to the brain and better than the other selfhelp books, researchers will say this week.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
work
works
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Shakespeare
Shakespeare
PROPN
NNP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
Wordsworth
Wordsworth
PROPN
NNP
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
root
Number=Plur
rocketbooster
rocketboosters
NOUN
NNS
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Cmp
good
better
ADJ
JJR
case
than
than
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
selfhelp
selfhelp
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
book
books
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Number=Plur
researcher
researchers
NOUN
NNS
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
parataxis
VerbForm=Inf
say
say
VERB
VB
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
week
week
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNS Scientists)) (, ,) (NP (NNS psychologists)) (CC and) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ English) (NNS experts)) (PP (IN at) (NP (NNP Liverpool) (NNP University))))) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN found) (SBAR (IN that) (S (S (VP (VBG reading) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS works)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NNP Shakespeare)) (CC and) (NP (JJ other) (JJ classical) (NNS writers))))))) (VP (VP (VBZ has) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ beneficial) (NN effect)) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT the) (NN mind))))) (, ,) (VP (VBZ catches) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN reader) (POS 's)) (NN attention))) (CC and) (VP (VBZ triggers) (NP (NP (NNS moments)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN 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.
nsubj
Number=Plur
scientist
Scientists
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Plur
psychologist
psychologists
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
English
English
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
expert
experts
NOUN
NNS
case
at
at
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
Liverpool
Liverpool
PROPN
NNP
nmod
Number=Sing
University
University
PROPN
NNP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
root
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
find
found
VERB
VBN
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
read
reading
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
work
works
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
Shakespeare
Shakespeare
PROPN
NNP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
classical
classical
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
writer
writers
NOUN
NNS
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
beneficial
beneficial
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
effect
effect
NOUN
NN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
mind
mind
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
catch
catches
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
reader
reader
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
obj
Number=Sing
attention
attention
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
trigger
triggers
VERB
VBZ
obj
Number=Plur
moment
moments
NOUN
NNS
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
selfreflection
selfreflection
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (S (VP (VBG Using) (NP (NNS scanners)))) (, ,) (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBD monitored) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN brain) (NN activity)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS volunteers)))) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBD read) (NP (DT the) (NNS works)) (PP (IN by) (NP (NP (NNP William) (NNP Shakespeare)) (, ,) (NP (NNP William) (NNP Wordsworth)) (, ,) (NP (NNP T.S) (NNP Eliot)) (CC and) (NP (JJ other) (JJ classical) (NNS 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.
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
use
Using
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
scanner
scanners
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
monitor
monitored
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
activity
activity
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
volunteer
volunteers
NOUN
NNS
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
read
read
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
work
works
NOUN
NNS
case
by
by
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
William
William
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Shakespeare
Shakespeare
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Sing
William
William
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Wordsworth
Wordsworth
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Sing
T.S
T.S
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Eliot
Eliot
PROPN
NNP
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
other
other
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
classical
classical
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
writer
writers
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP They)) (ADVP (RB then)) (VP (VP (`` ``) (VBD translated) (`` '') (NP (DT the) (NNS texts)) (PP (IN into) (NP (JJR more) (`` ``) (JJ straightforward) ('' '') (, ,) (JJ modern) (NN language)))) (CC and) (ADVP (RB again)) (VP (VBD monitored) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS readers) (POS ')) (NNS brains)) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP read) (NP (DT the) (NNS words))))))) (. .)))
They then "translated" the texts into more "straightforward", modern language and again monitored the readers' brains as they read the words.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
They
PRON
PRP
advmod
PronType=Dem
then
then
ADV
RB
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
translate
translated
VERB
VBD
punct
''
''
PUNCT
``
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
text
texts
NOUN
NNS
case
into
into
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADJ
JJR
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
straightforward
straightforward
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
modern
modern
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
language
language
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
advmod
again
again
ADV
RB
conj
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
monitor
monitored
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod:poss
Number=Plur
reader
readers
NOUN
NNS
case
's
'
PART
POS
obj
Number=Plur
brain
brains
NOUN
NNS
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
read
read
VERB
VBP
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
word
words
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Scans)) (VP (VBD showed) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (DT the) (RBR more) (`` ``) (JJ challenging) ('' '') (NNS articles) (CC and) (NN poetry)) (VP (VBD set) (PRT (RP off)) (NP (NP (ADJP (RB far) (JJR more)) (JJ electrical) (NN activity)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN brain))) (PP (IN than) (NP (DT the) (JJ modern) (NNS versions)))))))) (. .)))
Scans showed that the more "challenging" articles and poetry set off far more electrical activity in the brain than the modern versions.
nsubj
Number=Plur
scan
Scans
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
show
showed
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
challenging
challenging
ADJ
JJ
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
nsubj
Number=Plur
article
articles
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Sing
poetry
poetry
NOUN
NN
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
set
set
VERB
VBD
compound:prt
off
off
ADP
RP
advmod
Degree=Pos
far
far
ADV
RB
amod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADJ
JJR
amod
Degree=Pos
electrical
electrical
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
activity
activity
NOUN
NN
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
case
than
than
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
modern
modern
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
version
versions
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NNS Scientists)) (VP (VBD were) (ADJP (JJ able) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB study) (NP (DT the) (NN brain) (NN activity)) (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (VP (VBD responded) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT each) (NN word)))) (CC and) (VP (VB record) (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB how)) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (`` ``) (VBN lit) (PRT (RP up)) ('' '') (SBAR (IN as) (S (NP (DT the) (NNS readers)) (VP (VBD came) (PP (IN across) (NP (NP (JJ unusual) (NNS words)) (, ,) (NP (JJ surprising) (NNS phrases)) (CC or) (NP (JJ difficult) (NN sentence) (NNS 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.
nsubj
Number=Plur
scientist
Scientists
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
were
AUX
VBD
root
Degree=Pos
able
able
ADJ
JJ
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
study
study
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
obj
Number=Sing
activity
activity
NOUN
NN
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
respond
responded
VERB
VBD
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
each
each
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
word
word
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
record
record
VERB
VB
advmod
PronType=Int
how
how
ADV
WRB
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
ccomp
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
light
lit
VERB
VBN
compound:prt
up
up
ADP
RP
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
reader
readers
NOUN
NNS
advcl
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
come
came
VERB
VBD
case
across
across
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
unusual
unusual
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
word
words
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
amod
Degree=Pos
surprising
surprising
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
phrase
phrases
NOUN
NNS
cc
or
or
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
difficult
difficult
ADJ
JJ
compound
Number=Sing
sentence
sentence
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Plur
structure
structures
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT This) (`` ``) (NN lighting) (IN up) ('' '')) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN mind)))) (VP (VBZ lasts) (ADJP (ADJP (JJR longer)) (PP (IN than) (NP (DT the) (JJ initial) (JJ electrical) (NN spark)))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG shifting) (NP (DT the) (NN brain)) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT a) (JJR higher) (NN speed))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG encouraging) (NP (JJ further) (NN reading))))))) (. .)))
This "lighting up" of the mind lasts longer than the initial electrical spark, shifting the brain to a higher speed, encouraging further reading.
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
This
DET
DT
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
compound
Number=Sing
lighting
lighting
NOUN
NN
nsubj
up
up
ADP
IN
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
mind
mind
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
last
lasts
VERB
VBZ
xcomp
Degree=Cmp
long
longer
ADJ
JJR
case
than
than
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
initial
initial
ADJ
JJ
amod
Degree=Pos
electrical
electrical
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
spark
spark
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
shift
shifting
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Cmp
high
higher
ADJ
JJR
obl
Number=Sing
speed
speed
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
encourage
encouraging
VERB
VBG
amod
Degree=Cmp
further
further
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
reading
reading
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NN research)) (ADVP (RB also)) (VP (VBD found) (SBAR (IN that) (S (S (VP (VBG reading) (NP (NN poetry)))) (, ,) (PP (IN in) (ADJP (JJ particular))) (, ,) (VP (VBZ increases) (NP (NP (DT the) (NNS activities)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ right) (NN side)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN brain)))) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN area)) (VP (VBN concerned) (PP (IN with) (`` ``) (NP (JJ autobiographical) (NN memory)) ('' ''))))))) (, ,) (S (VP (VBG helping) (NP (NNS readers)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB reflect) (PP (IN on) (NP (PRP$ their) (JJ own) (NNS experiences))) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NN light)) (PP (IN of) (SBAR (WHNP (WP what)) (S (NP (PRP they)) (VP (VBP have) (VP (VBN 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.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
research
research
NOUN
NN
advmod
also
also
ADV
RB
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
find
found
VERB
VBD
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
csubj
VerbForm=Ger
read
reading
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Sing
poetry
poetry
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Degree=Pos
particular
particular
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
increase
increases
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
activity
activities
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
right
right
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
side
side
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
appos
Number=Sing
area
area
NOUN
NN
acl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
concern
concerned
VERB
VBN
case
with
with
ADP
IN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
autobiographical
autobiographical
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
memory
memory
NOUN
NN
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
help
helping
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
reader
readers
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
reflect
reflect
VERB
VB
case
on
on
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
amod
Degree=Pos
own
own
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
experience
experiences
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
light
light
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
PronType=Rel
what
what
PRON
WP
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
have
AUX
VBP
acl:relcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
read
read
VERB
VBN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (DT The) (NNS experts)) (VP (VBD said) (SBAR (S (NP (DT this)) (VP (VBD meant) (SBAR (S (NP (DT the) (NNS classics)) (VP (VBD were) (ADJP (ADJP (RBR more) (JJ useful)) (PP (IN than) (NP (NN selfhelp) (NNS books))))))))))) (. .)))
The experts said this meant the classics were more useful than selfhelp books.
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
expert
experts
NOUN
NNS
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
say
said
VERB
VBD
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
mean
meant
VERB
VBD
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Plur
classic
classics
NOUN
NNS
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin
be
were
AUX
VBD
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
ccomp
Degree=Pos
useful
useful
ADJ
JJ
case
than
than
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
selfhelp
selfhelp
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Plur
book
books
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Philip) (NNP Davis)) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT an) (JJ English) (NN professor)) (SBAR (WHNP (WP who)) (S (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN worked) (PP (IN on) (NP (DT the) (NN study))) (PP (IN with) (NP (DT the) (NN university)))))))) (, ,)) (VP (MD will) (VP (VB tell) (NP (DT a) (NN conference)) (NP (DT this) (NN week)) (: :) (`` ``) (S (NP (JJ Serious) (NN literature)) (VP (VBZ acts) (PP (IN like) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN rocketbooster)) (PP (IN to) (NP (DT the) (NN 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."
nsubj
Number=Sing
Philip
Philip
PROPN
NNP
flat
Number=Sing
Davis
Davis
PROPN
NNP
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
an
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
English
English
ADJ
JJ
appos
Number=Sing
professor
professor
NOUN
NN
nsubj
PronType=Rel
who
who
PRON
WP
aux
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
have
has
AUX
VBZ
acl:relcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
work
worked
VERB
VBN
case
on
on
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
study
study
NOUN
NN
case
with
with
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
university
university
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
tell
tell
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
iobj
Number=Sing
conference
conference
NOUN
NN
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
obl:tmod
Number=Sing
week
week
NOUN
NN
punct
:
:
PUNCT
:
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
amod
Degree=Pos
Serious
Serious
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
literature
literature
NOUN
NN
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
act
acts
VERB
VBZ
case
like
like
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
rocketbooster
rocketbooster
NOUN
NN
case
to
to
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
brain
brain
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (DT The) (NN research)) (VP (VBZ shows) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (NN power)) (PP (IN of) (NP (JJ classical) (NN literature)))) (VP (VP (TO to) (VP (VB shift) (NP (JJ mental) (NNS pathways)))) (, ,) (VP (TO to) (VP (VB create) (NP (JJ new) (NNS thoughts) (, ,) (NNS shapes) (CC and) (NNS connections)) (PP (IN in) (NP (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ young)) (CC and) (NP (DT the) (JJ old))) (ADJP (JJ 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."
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
The
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
research
research
NOUN
NN
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
show
shows
VERB
VBZ
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
power
power
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
classical
classical
ADJ
JJ
nmod
Number=Sing
literature
literature
NOUN
NN
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
shift
shift
VERB
VB
amod
Degree=Pos
mental
mental
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
pathway
pathways
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
to
to
PART
TO
conj
VerbForm=Inf
create
create
VERB
VB
amod
Degree=Pos
new
new
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Plur
thought
thoughts
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
conj
Number=Plur
shape
shapes
NOUN
NNS
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
Number=Plur
connection
connections
NOUN
NNS
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
young
young
ADJ
JJ
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
conj
Degree=Pos
old
old
ADJ
JJ
conj
Degree=Pos
alike
alike
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
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."