An Exploratory EEG Comparison of Good and Bad Readers

Purpose

This study investigates the neurophysiological differences between proficient and struggling readers using electroencephalography (EEG).

Method: Eighteen participants, categorized as good or poor readers based on standardized assessments, underwent resting-state EEG recordings. The analysis focused on the alpha (8–12 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) frequency bands, which are crucial for cognitive and language processes.

Findings: Good readers exhibited increased beta power in frontal regions and enhanced synchronization within fronto-central-parietal networks compared to poor readers. Alpha band activity showed complex associations with age, reading skills, and verbal fluency. The heightened beta activity in good readers aligns with its role in cognitive control and language processing, while stronger network connectivity suggests more efficient neural communication.

Conclusions: These findings provide insights into the neural basis of reading proficiency, highlighting the importance of distributed brain networks in skilled reading. Future research should replicate these results with larger samples and longitudinal designs.