Reading in the Brain: The Science and Evolution of a Human Invention

A renowned cognitive neuroscientist?s fascinating and highly informative account of how the brain acquires readingHow can a few black marks on a white page evoke an entire universe of sounds and meanings? In this riveting investigation Stanislas Dehaene provides an accessible account of the brain circuitry of reading and explores what he calls the ?reading paradox?: Our cortex is the product of millions of years of evolution in a world without writing so how did it adapt to recognize words? Reading in the Brain describes pioneering research on how we process language revealing the hidden logic of spelling and the existence of powerful unconscious mechanisms for decoding words of any size case or font. Dehaene?s research will fascinate not only readers interested in science and culture but also educators concerned with debates on how we learn to read and who wrestle with pathologies such as dyslexia. Like Steven Pinker Dehaene argues that the mind is not a blank slate: Writing systems across all cultures rely on the same brain circuits and reading is only possible insofar as it fits within the limits of a primate brain. Setting cutting-edge science in the context of cultural debate Reading in the Brain is an unparalleled guide to a uniquely human ability.

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Viking Adult; 1 edition (November 12 2009)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 9780670021109

ISBN-13: 978-0670021109

ASIN: 0670021105

Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches

Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds