What happens when we read? Decoding the brain's dual networks

The research team used an innovative approach to study the brain activity of 36 people with intracranial electrodes implanted as part of epilepsy treatment. By recording their neural activity while they read, the researchers were able to observe how different parts of the brain worked together to make sense of words.

The researchers instructed the participants to read three types of texts: meaningful sentences, a list of words, and sentences that used correct grammar but had made-up words, which the researchers called 'Jabberwocky' sentences. The results were fascinating.

Their findings revealed two adjacent brain networks collaborating to make sense of what we read. The first network, involving the brain's frontal lobe sending signals to the temporal lobe, is activated as a person begins deciphering the meaning within a sentence. This process resembles piecing together a linguistic puzzle, with each word contributing to the overall message.

The second network uses another section of the temporal lobe. It sends signals back to the frontal lobe. Interestingly, this network was more activated by words in a list rather than by entire sentences. This suggests that the second network plays a crucial role in enhancing our understanding of individual words.

"This study helps us better understand how distributed hubs in the brain's language network work together and interact to allow us to understand complex sentences," says Woolnough. 

The implications of the research

This pioneering research opens the door to a deeper comprehension of how our brains process language. It also paves the way for potential advancements in education, neurology, and artificial intelligence. As we unravel the complexities of our brain's inner workings, we can truly appreciate the extraordinary power of our minds in making sense of the written word.