Publication Details
Abstract
It has long been theorized by scholars that reading fiction acts as a "flight simulator" to practice social communication, yet the mechanism behind tendency of humans to intentionally immerse themselves in fictional narratives, despite the absence of real world relevant data, remains a paradox that evolutionary scientists have been struggling to explain. This academic paper investigates the evolutionary origins and biological consequences of this universal human behavior by synthesizing existing data derived from fields like evolutionary psychology, literary neuroscience and social psychology. First, by examining the "Social Simulation Theory" this paper argues that human drive for engaging in fictional narratives is strongly supported by our pre-existing need for exploring novel environments in search of new stimuli that activated the brain's ancient reward system instantly. Second, by presenting neuroimaging evidence, this article demonstrates that human brain engages in "grounded cognition" to access fictional stories that requires activation of the same sensory and motor cortices used in real life experiences. Finally, this paper establishes that previously mentioned neural simulation and activation serves to strengthen brain connectivity, long-term neurological health, empathy, theory of mind and other cognitive functions. Ultimately, this research confirms that fictional stories are not just "entertainment technologies" but also evolutionary adaptation aimed at enhancing cognitive and social skills.