The use of brain imaging tells us a lot about reading. We can see what areas of the brain “light up” when reading and how it differs between different disorders and struggling vs average readers.

Brain imaging also means we can see how different areas of the brain light up when people have been raised or taught differently. This article is fascinating, particularly in relation to the “reward circuitry” which is something teachers and parents would understand well! When your child or student behaves you provide a reward (verbal or tangible) to stimulate the part of their brain that makes them feel good and want to do it again.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=brain-imaging-studies-show-differen-10-11-27