Study Reveals Cognitive Advantages of Reading Print Books

WHO:

NY Post - The study was conducted by researchers including Kuniyoshi L. Sakai, a professor in the Department of Basic Science at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Tokyo.

PsyPost - The study was authored by Keita Umejima, Yuki Sunada, and Kuniyoshi L. Sakai.

WHAT:

NY Post - A new study published in the journal PLOS ONE revealed cognitive advantages of reading print books over digital formats.

PsyPost - The study found that reading physical comic books helps the brain absorb and connect story details more easily than reading on a digital tablet.

PsyPost - Participants who read on paper took less time to answer complex questions compared to those who read on a tablet.

WHERE:

PsyPost - The study was conducted at the University of Tokyo.

WHEN:

PsyPost - The study's findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

WHY:

PsyPost - The research aimed to investigate the cognitive effects of reading formats, specifically whether physical books provide advantages in story comprehension and memory retention.

HOW:

PsyPost - The researchers recruited 25 right-handed university students who were native Japanese speakers for the study.

PsyPost - Participants were randomly assigned to read the first half of a manga story on either a physical paper book or an electronic tablet.

PsyPost - Brain activity was measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after participants read the first half of the story.

PsyPost - Participants rated their empathy toward characters on a four-point scale during the reading phase and answered multiple-choice questions about the story afterward.

(UPDATED June 13, 2026 20:34 UTC)

A new study from the University of Tokyo, authored by Keita Umejima, Yuki Sunada, and Kuniyoshi L. Sakai, has revealed that reading print books offers cognitive advantages over digital formats. The research found that participants who read physical comic books were able to absorb and connect story details more easily and took less time to answer complex questions compared to those who read on a tablet. Using magnetic resonance imaging, the study measured brain activity while participants rated their empathy toward characters and answered multiple-choice questions about the story, highlighting the benefits of physical reading materials.