Writing by hand may increase brain connectivity more than typing on a keyboard

As digital devices gradually replace pen and paper, taking notes by hand is becoming increasingly rare in schools and universities. Using a keyboard is recommended as it is often faster than writing by hand. However, it has been found to improve spelling accuracy and memory.

To find out whether the process of forming letters by hand resulted in greater brain connectivity, Norwegian researchers studied the underlying neural networks involved in the two modes of writing.

“We show that when writing by hand, brain connectivity patterns are much more elaborate than when writing on a keyboard,” said Professor Audrey van der Meer, a brain researcher at the Norwegian University of science and technology and co-author of the published study. In Frontiers of psychology.

“Such widespread brain connectivity is known to be crucial for memory formation and for encoding new information and is therefore beneficial for learning.”

The pen is more powerful than the (keyboard)

The researchers collected EEG data from 36 university students who were repeatedly asked to write or type a word appearing on a screen. When writing, they used a digital pen to write in cursive directly on a touch screen. When typing, they used a single finger to press keys on a keyboard.

High-density EEGs, which measure electrical activity in the brain using 256 small sensors sewn into a mesh and placed above the head, were recorded for five seconds for each prompt.

The connectivity of different brain regions increased when participants wrote by hand, but not when they typed. “Our results suggest that visual and movement information obtained through precisely controlled hand movements when using a pen contribute largely to brain connectivity patterns that promote learning,” said van der Meer .

Movement for memory

Although the participants used digital pens to write by hand, the researchers said the results should be the same when using a real pen on paper.

“We showed that differences in brain activity are linked to the careful formation of letters when writing by hand while relying more on the senses,” explained van der Meer. Since it is the movement of the fingers made during letter formation that promotes brain connectivity, printed writing should also have similar benefits to cursive writing for learning.

In contrast, the simple motion of repeatedly pressing a key with the same finger is less stimulating to the brain. “This also explains why children who learned to write and read on a tablet may have difficulty telling the difference between letters that are mirror images of each other, such as “b” and “d.” “Literally didn’t feel with their body what it feels like to produce these letters,” van der Meer said.

A balancing act

Their results demonstrate the need to give students the option of using pens, rather than letting them type during lectures, the researchers said. Guidelines to ensure that students receive at least minimal handwriting instruction could be an adequate measure. For example, cursive writing training was reintroduced in many US states earlier this year.

At the same time, it is also important to keep up with ever-changing technological advancements, they cautioned. This involves knowing which way of writing offers the most benefit and under what circumstances.

“There is some evidence that students learn more and remember better when they take handwritten lecture notes, while using a computer with a keyboard may be more convenient when writing a long text or essay. test,” concluded van der Meer.