How did you check your schedule this morning? In a world dominated by digital tools, the most popular answer would be using a digital calendar. Typing on our phones and laptops, or even using voice assistants has become the norm for taking notes, scheduling meetings, and creating grocery lists. But is this shift away from handwriting helping or hindering us? According to a growing amount of research, handwriting offers significant benefits lost in the digital world, including enhanced memory, learning, and test performance.
In a recent study, researchers conducted brain connectivity analysis using high-density electroencephalography (EEG) on university students to compare neural processes during handwriting versus typewriting of individual words. The results reveal that handwriting stimulates more complex brain connectivity and activity compared to typing. The intricate hand movements involved in writing activate both temporal and spatial functions in the brain, which are essential for encoding.
This isn’t an isolated finding. Authors of a systematic review analyzing 33 academic studies concluded that students who took notes on paper in class scored significantly higher on assessments compared to those who took notes digitally. Writing by hand may help encode information more effectively, giving students a boost in retention and comprehension of material.
Beyond the classroom, handwriting also has everyday advantages. A study conducted in Japan had its participants read a conversation and record upcoming events mentioned, either on their smartphone/tablet calendars or using a pen and notebook. Participants who wrote the events by hand experienced enhanced retention and recalled details 25% faster than those who used devices. The act of handwriting seemingly enhances memory in ways that even the most advanced digital tools can’t replicate.
Handwriting also plays a vital role in child brain development, specifically in literacy. A research study conducted using MRIs showed that when preliterate children wrote letters by hand, neural activation occurred in the same brain regions involved in learning to read. The children who typed the letters, however, showed no neural activation in those areas.
Writing by hand isn’t just an old habit, but a powerful tool for your brain. Next time you’re taking notes, planning your day, or learning new skills, pick up a pen and paper, and experience the difference in memory retention and engagement!
Tags: brain, handwriting, learning, memory, pen and paper, typingCategorised in: Uncategorized
This post was written by Christine Rizk