Many students are reluctant to write by hand because it takes time and is more tedious than typing on a computer. However, writing by hand actually helps with memory retention significantly more.
Two psychologists, Audrey van der Meer and Ruud van der Weel, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, have spent many years studying the brain and how humans remember, particularly comparing handwriting and typing.
Volunteers in the study comparing memory retention between handwriting and typing – (Photo: Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Previous studies by the team indicated that handwriting tends to improve spelling and makes the material easier to understand. However, these studies only surveyed the topic without providing evidence from brain activity.
Recently, Audrey van der Meer and Ruud van der Weel revisited this topic and made fascinating discoveries.
They recruited undergraduate volunteers and showed them a word on a computer screen, then asked them to either type or write the word using a digital pen. During the experiment, the volunteers wore a cap that recorded the electrical waves produced in their brains.
The research team analyzed brainwave activity. They focused on the frequency of brain waves and noticed that when students wrote by hand, there was a very significant increase in brain activity in the areas related to movement.
Handwriting creates stronger connections between brain regions during learning – (Photo: MIT).
Additionally, certain types of brain waves known to support learning and memory also increased. In summary, the brain connections processing the material appeared to be more active.
Further analysis in the cortex showed that while writing by hand, there was a strong connection between the outer parts of the brain, which are involved in movement and sensation, and the central parts, which are involved in memory.
“Some previous explanations suggested that because handwriting is slower than typing, it gives the brain more time to process information. However, our new research shows that these brain regions work together when writing by hand in a way that cannot be achieved when typing“, stated Audrey van der Meer.
