Speed Reading and the Brain

Increasing reading speed

According to a 2007 New York University study, the brain processes what we read with three different mechanisms that play essential roles in reading speed--phonics, contextual clues and word recognition.

Phonics

Phonics is internal "sounding out" of words we read. In a 2007 Scientific American article, "To Read with Speed," writer Nikhil Swaminathan cites the NYU study's conclusion that phonics is responsible for 62 percent of reading speed.

Contextual Clues

Readers also use contextual clues--taking earlier-read words and phrases to anticipate upcoming words. Swaminathan reports this mechanism accounts for 22 percent of reading speed.

Word Shape

Holistic word recognition is the third mechanism the brain uses to process text, allowing us to recognize words based on physical shape, which accounts for 16 percent of reading speed, the NYU study found.

Boosting Speed

Meta guiding can influence reading speed, as it helps readers lessen visual distractions by directing the eye toward the text with a guiding hand or pencil. This technique was highly encouraged by Evelyn Wood, a pioneer in the study of good reading habits, who coined the term "speed reading."

Dynamic Comprehension

Wood also promoted the idea of "dynamic comprehension," saying that once your brain becomes accustomed to processing large amounts of information, you're no longer reading but experiencing words as if you were watching a movie. The text comes alive and the information feeds the imagination.

References

• Scientific American: To Read with Speed
• Evelyn Wood: Reading Dynamics