New research of interest

Kidd, D., & Castano, E. (2013). Reading literary fiction improves theory of mind. Science 18 October 2013:
Vol. 342 no. 6156 pp. 377-380 
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6156/377.short

 

There is also an interesting Press Release about this research from the New School in New York City:

http://www.newschool.edu/pressroom/pressreleases/2013/CastanoKidd.htm

 

The article and the press release both refer to ToM Theory of Mind.  Here is a brief description of what this term actually means:  http://www.howstuffworks.com/theory-of-mind.htm

 

Another older piece of research:

Bookworms versus nerds: Exposure to fiction versus non-fiction, divergent associations with social ability, and the simulation of fictional social worlds.  Authors:  Raymond A. MarKeith OatleyJacob HirshJennifer dela PazJordan B. Peterson. published by the University of Toronto in 2006. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S009265660500053X