When we read, we detect the visual symbols on the page with our eyes. These signals travel to the visual cortex, where the shapes of letters are identified, and later to the temporal cortex, where meaning is ascribed to letter combinations, or words, as we read. Reading every day strengthens the connections between these areas, making them more efficient. This improves not just reading but also other processes that use those brain areas, like verbal communication and complex reasoning. This is a video from the 2024 Brain Awareness Video Contest. Created by Bruno Marques.