Reading comprehension

Reading comprehension is a complex cognitive process involving the extraction of meaning from written text through integrated skills like decoding (sounding out words), vocabulary recognition, syntax understanding, and higher-order thinking such as inference and summarization. It relies on brain networks including left inferior frontal gyrus (LIFG) and left middle temporal gyrus (LMTG) for amodal language comprehension, with modality-specific activation in left inferior occipital cortex (fusiform gyrus) for visual word processing. Poor reading comprehension often stems from deficits in word-level processing or neurobiological markers like reduced left temporoparietal and occipitotemporal (OT) activation, as seen in dyslexia. Individual differences, such as working memory capacity, influence brain lateralization, with lower-capacity readers showing right-hemisphere spillover. While not a molecular target like receptors or enzymes, impairments link to developmental disorders, and interventions aim to strengthen left-hemisphere circuits for fluent processing. No drugs directly target it; focus remains on cognitive training and education.

Other names

reading and reading comprehensiontext comprehensionliteracy comprehension