Question 4

The debate concerning the legitimacy of audiobooks often centers on whether listening yields the same intellectual benefits as visual reading. Research indicates that for proficient readers, the cognitive processes used to construct meaning-such as inferring motives and visualizing scenes-are largely identical across both formats. The brain networks responsible for language comprehension are activated similarly, suggesting that the core experience of consuming a narrative is preserved regardless of the medium. Nevertheless, a critical structural difference exists regarding the control of attention. Visual reading inherently accommodates regression, allowing the reader's eyes to flit back to previous lines to clarify ambiguity or reinforce complex concepts before moving forward. In contrast, audio playback imposes a linear, continuous momentum that discourages pausing or rewinding for minor clarifications. While this unyielding pace rarely hinders the enjoyment of fiction, it can be detrimental when engaging with dense, informational texts where the ability to self-regulate speed and review specific details is essential for deep analysis. According to the passage, what is a significant limitation of the audiobook format?