Any task you do throughout the day requires brain power – no matter how minimal it may seem. From writing down a quick note or responding to a text or email, your brain activates differently to communicate or remember things depending on the method you choose. When you look at it further, there are some key differences between how the brain is engaged when you write something out versus type on a computer or device. Here, Baibing Chen, M.D., a neurologist at Henry Ford Health, dives into how these two simple everyday practices stimulate the brain.
Handwriting To Boost Memory And Understanding
“There is some research to support that handwriting engages your brain more,” says Dr. Chen. “When you write, your brain works harder. The controlled hand movements needed to form each letter activate multiple areas of the brain at the same time, which can create more elaborate connectivity patterns than typing does.
As a result, writing things down may be proven to help you process ideas and retain information more deeply.
This can be understood clearly when looking at school-aged kids. When children are young, they are taught to handwrite letters to help understand language.
“Some research shows that students perform better on conceptual questions when they take notes by hand rather than on a laptop (possibly because longhand note-takers tend to rephrase information when transcribing),” says Dr. Chen. “However, it is worth noting that replication studies have produced mixed results, so the advantage may not be as clear-cut as once thought.”
Since the rise of digital devices in classrooms (while they have benefits), some experts have raised concerns about their potential to increase distraction and reduce focused engagement with learning material. In fact, many school districts around the country are reconsidering how much digital devices are used in classrooms in response to these concerns.
If you are looking to boost your memory, consider adding more handwriting into your day-to-day routine. This can include:
- Writing notes to friends or family
- Taking up calligraphy
- Journaling or keeping a diary
- Swapping your virtual to-do list for a weekly planner or calendar
- Keeping a paper grocery list
Typing For Ease And Practicality In A Digital World
Neurology At Henry Ford
“In today’s digital age, there is so much information to process all the time – typing is often the go-to to help us keep up with it all,” says Dr. Chen.
And while handwriting may have its benefits, it isn’t an option for everyone. Some individuals find handwriting painful or extremely difficult to do because of health conditions or limited mobility. As a result, typing can allow for easier communication with others.
“The difference is that typing involves more repetitive, uniform finger movements, whereas handwriting requires the brain to plan and execute unique letter shapes each time – which appears to drive the more widespread neural activation seen in brain imaging studies,” says Dr. Chen.
At the end of the day, both handwriting and typing have advantages for specific populations. Older adults may benefit from incorporating both into their routines – typing to stay connected with others and access information efficiently, and handwriting to engage the kind of fine motor and cognitive activity that research suggests may support cognitive health. If you tend to type more than write nowadays, it might be worth it to get ideas down on paper every once in a while.
Reviewed by Dr. Baibing Chen, a neurologist who sees patients at Henry Ford Hospital and Henry Ford Medical Centers in Plymouth and Taylor.
