Fiction reading may foster various cognitive skills, research indicates
A study has revealed the positive cognitive effects of reading fiction. Lena Wimmer, a postdoctoral researcher at Germany's Maximilian University, and her team conducted two meta-analyses to explore this relationship. "Over the last decades, scholars from several disciplines have claimed far-reaching benefits of reading fiction for cognition in real world," Wimmer shared with PsyPost. "I wanted to get an objective overview of the relevant empirical evidence to decide whether any of these assumptions is supported by empirical studies," she added.
Reading fiction boosts empathy and understanding
The first meta-analysis incorporated data from 70 studies with over 11,000 participants, and found a small yet statistically significant positive impact on cognition from reading fiction. Wimmer's first meta-analysis revealed that individuals who read more fiction, showed an enhanced ability to empathize with others and comprehend their thought processes. The study also found that reading fiction had a more substantial impact on cognition, than doing nothing or watching fiction on a screen.
Fiction reading enhances other cognitive abilities
The second meta-analysis conducted by Wimmer's team incorporated data from 114 studies with over 30,000 participants. This analysis found a stronger correlation between reading fiction and cognitive abilities such as verbal skills, abstract thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving. While there was a trend toward better emotional cognitive abilities like empathizing in the first meta-analysis, this correlation was not as pronounced here.
Fiction reading outperforms nonfiction in cognitive enhancement
Wimmer concluded that both meta-analyses showed similar trends, "That people who read a lot of fiction have better cognitive skills than people who read little or no fiction." She further added, "These benefits are small in size across various cognitive skills, but of medium size for verbal and general cognitive abilities." Notably, she pointed out a stronger association between reading fiction and cognitive skills, than between reading nonfiction and those skills.
