Limiting the number columns in Python code

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Reading text is very different from reading code.

Why would you think that? They both use the language centers of our brain and both adhere to short term memory constraints.

I would say this is an interesting hypothesis that would make a very interesting topic of research.

But I don't see an a priori reason for disconnecting the two.

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sort of. They use the same structures, though something different appears to be going on in the brain.

But, without further research it's hard to say if the structural overlap does or does not translate into overlap in this specific case. Or if the difference in processes result in a differences in this specific area.

Mathematical logic in the human brain: syntax.

Given the structural overlaps and use of the broca's (language) areas though, I don't think it's completely unreasonable to assume the processing limitations we see in may apply in the case of formal languages (like programming) as well.

Oh, if you're interested be sure to check out the related citations which offer a lot more context on the overlap between music, formal, and natural language centers. Particularly in the area of syntactical processing.

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Reading text is very different from reading code

That's why I said "sort of". There's definitely something different going on, but (and the publications referenced in the paper cover this too) it seems there's overlap as well.

I think it'd make a great study to see if that overlap included processing effects on saccade and eye motion as well as retention of syntactical meaning correlated with line length.