In a recent study at Emory University called "Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain," Neuro-scientist discovered evidence suggesting that reading novels improves brain function on many levels. Reading a novel puts the reader in another person's shoes expanding their imagination. A bran scan showed that there were changes in the temporal cortex of novel-readers. This is the area of the brain associated with language as well as sensations and movement. Reading stories can exercises a person's emotion and compassion as well.