Study Reveals How Literacy Alters Brain's Processing of Spoken Language
A recent study published in the journal Cortex has revealed that learning to read significantly alters the brain's pathways for processing spoken language. The research, led by Mariana P. Nucci from the University of São Paulo, found that adults with formal literacy training utilize a specialized region on the right side of the brain to identify isolated speech sounds. This neurological response is absent in individuals with limited reading education. The study involved participants from São Paulo, Brazil, including highly educated young and older adults, as well as older adults with low levels of formal education. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the researchers observed that literate individuals performed better in phonological awareness tasks, particularly when listening to unfamiliar languages, compared to their illiterate counterparts. 
