What Happens Inside Your Head When You Read

What happens inside your head when you read?

My mind hurts! – Jack

It’s like I get a nervous stomach ‘cause I might get the words wrong. - Mathilda

I just read words out of my mouth. – Simon

Well lots of things swing into action. My mind turns on a switch that starts up my memory. Then I recognize words from that same part of my brain. Sounding out happens from another connection and when I understand what I’m reading my brain cells are sharpening. Sometimes if I’m reading something scary, my stomach churns and my hands go cold. But if I’m reading something sad, my tear ducks start working. If I’m reading something funny, I guess my brain tells my mouth to laugh. – Fiona

I read inside my head not outside of it. – Anna

The words usually look jumbled up and blurry. – Robert

I dunno. – Brad

It depends what I’m reading. If I’m reading something I like, I get everything inside me going crazy. – Claire

Not much. – Zuban

All my reading is done quickly in my head but accurately. – Julie

My whole body smiles when I read. – Grace

My brain reads better on the computer then from books. – Koichi

You know, reading goes into every inch of my body. Like when I read the Detora Quest series, I got lost inside my body and even when I got called to dinner, I didn’t hear anything. But it’s not always like that. Sometimes when I read and it’s boring, it puts me to sleep. –Edward

It all depends if my brain’s turned on. It takes breakfast, sleep and what I’m reading to turn it on. – Ahmet

If it’s small print my eyes can’t see it properly and if it’s a thick book, my hands get tired from holding it. - Sherry