Dyslexia Affects More Than Just Language in the Brain


New research shows that dyslexia is not just about language and reading, but more related to brain functions. Dyslexia is a disability that can cause confusion while reading and writing.

Dyslexia has nothing to do with intelligence; it’s a learning disability, meaning it affects how people learn, not how smart they are or what they do with their knowledge. Previously, researchers thought dyslexia-affected parts of the brain handle language. Now, new research suggests dyslexia has more to do with a brain process called adaptive learning .

Adaptive learning is assimilating something new into a base knowledge of previous information one is already familiar with. It also allows the brain to distinguish between old and new sights.

John Gabrieli is a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. By studying MRI brain scans, he uncovered that dyslexia is likely caused by difficulties with adaptive learning. Currently, Gabrieli is looking further into how brain functions, beyond just the language center, can affect dyslexia.

“If this first step in quick changes in the brain’s response to experiences is different, then that can undermine big learning—like learning to read,” said Gabreili. “We need to figure out a curriculum or approach that matches the differences [students with dyslexia] have.”

This type of research is important so educators, parents, and family members know how to collaborate with people with dyslexia. Dyslexics are just like everyone else; they just have a different way of learning. Knowing more about this learning disability can help us support people with dyslexia when they struggle.

[Source: Time.com ]

There are so many different layers to some of these learning disabilities and it's sad that few people know about them...thanks for writing this piece Raymundo. You wrote it well. – Amy , La Follette (2017-03-07 19:40)
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