<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ";Arial";,";sans-serif";; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Abstract: </span></strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-family: ";Arial";,";sans-serif";; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">much has been said about the ways cultural elements impact human cognition. In this context, a sociocultural perspective highlights the connection between culturally constructed artifacts and biologically endowed aspects in the development of one’s mental functioning. Investigating the process of learning to read has led researchers to bring such connection into light, studies revealing that reading acquisition provokes changes in the way the human brain is organized, leading the organ to accommodate new functions in response to contact with such highly organized and culturally constructed activity. With this in mind, the present paper has a threefold objective: (i) to present a sociocultural view on human mental functioning; (ii) to review studies on the impacts of learning to read on brain activity; and (iii) to draw a parallel between a vygotskian view on human cognition and neuroscientific evidence of how learning to read impacts brain activity. <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">The studies reviewed show the ways reading acquisition results in changes in brain activity, as well as how the brain reorganizes itself in order to accommodate new functions as a response to this process. From a vygotskian instance, this illustrates how one’s cognitive development is fostered on the external plane as they interact with socioculturally constructed means. </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: ";Arial";,";sans-serif";; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">Keywords: </span></strong><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: ";Arial";,";sans-serif";; color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Human cognition. Sociocultural Theory. Reading. Brain activity. </span></p>