Handwriting Enhances Brain Connectivity – Mind Care Center
When it comes to learning and memory, handwriting might hold an edge over typing
BY CLAUDIA LÓPEZ LLOREDA
Repetitively writing the same word in cursive may evoke unpleasant memories for some, but a new study suggests that handwriting enhances connectivity among brain regions linked to learning and memory.
In an experiment, college students who wrote words by hand exhibited increased brain connectivity, particularly in brain waves connected to memory formation, compared to when they typed those words, according to research published on January 26 in Frontiers in Psychology.
This finding indicates that “there is a fundamental difference in how the brain operates when handwriting versus typing,” says neuroscientist Ramesh Balasubramaniam of the University of California, Merced, who was not part of the study.
It reinforces growing evidence of the advantages of handwriting. Previous studies have indicated that handwriting boosts spelling precision, memory retrieval, and conceptual comprehension. Researchers believe that the slower pace of carefully tracing letters and words allows individuals more time to process information, while the intricate movements themselves enhance learning.
In the study, psychologists Audrey van der Meer and Ruud Vander Weel from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim enlisted 36 students and outfitted them with a cap of electrodes. The students were instructed to either type or write a word in cursive using a digital pen in response to a prompt on a computer screen.
The cap monitored electrical brain activity during each task.
Researchers analyzed coherence: when two brain regions show activity at the same frequency of electrical waves simultaneously. Scientists utilize brain activity to measure coherence between regions, which can reveal how strongly they are interconnected.
Only handwriting demonstrated coherence. Handwriting increased activity in low-frequency alpha and theta waves in brain regions related to learning compared to typing. It also amplified connectivity among major brain areas associated with memory and within parietal regions, which are integral to sensory and motor processing.
The results imply distinctive brain activation processes occur during typing versus writing. Even with similar physical movements, “the activation level seems much, much higher during handwriting,” Balasubramaniam states. “These brain regions are more engaged when you’re handwriting.”
Van der Meer and van der Weel believe this enhanced activity could support learning, as the specific waves exchanged between these brain regions are involved in memory creation. However, since the study did not evaluate participants’ retention of the words, the impact on learning remains uncertain, notes psychologist Kathleen Arnold from Radford University in Virginia. The study “calls for follow-up investigations to determine what causes these connectivity differences and their potential effects on learning outcomes.”
The unique movements required for typing or writing might clarify the observed differences, Balasubramaniam explains. Yet, “this is the starting point, and these are the first results demonstrating that these two actions lead to different brain activation patterns.”
While handwriting may enhance learning processes, typing is generally faster and more practical. Therefore, students and educators should weigh the specific task when choosing between handwriting and typing, according to van der Meer. For instance, handwritten notes might aid in better information retention, while typing could facilitate essay writing.
Despite the necessity for more research to identify optimal learning techniques, experts posit that handwriting should not be disregarded in our digital era. Schools “need to incorporate more writing in curriculum development,” asserts Balasubramaniam.
A new law in California mandates that students in grades one through six learn cursive writing. This study, along with similar research, could support similar initiatives elsewhere.
Van der Meer emphasizes that writing is also part of our cultural legacy. The ability to jot down a grocery list or compose a love letter, she notes, “is significant for us as humans.”
A recent study suggests that handwriting may enhance learning and memory more effectively than typing. Researchers found increased brain connectivity in participants who wrote words by hand compared to those who typed. This goes against previous beliefs that typing and handwriting are similar; the unique motor skills involved in handwriting seem to stimulate brain regions linked to memory formation. While handwriting aids in retention, typing remains practical for certain tasks. Experts advocate for integrating more handwriting into educational curriculums, emphasizing its cultural significance and potential benefits, which could influence similar educational policies in other regions.
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