Scientists say handwriting offers benefits for thinking and memory compared with typing on a keyboard or phone. Neuroscientist Ramesh Balasubramaniam of the University of California, Merced, said the physical experience of writing involves important processes. The slower pace of writing allows time to consciously evaluate thoughts and engage in creative-critical analysis. Physically forming letters strengthens the connections between brain regions that are necessary for learning and memory.
Professor Audrey van der Meer of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology said rapidly typing what is heard on a keyboard could hinder information processing. In a study by van der Meer and other researchers involving 36 university students, it was reported that this effect was not observed with keyboard use. According to research from Tufts University, handwriting supports spatial reasoning and conceptual achievement. Sophia Vinci-Booher of Vanderbilt University said the fingers make different movements to produce legible handwriting. A small 2014 study by Chinese researchers found that calligraphy could reduce stress and heart rate. Carrying a notebook and writing for 20 minutes every day are recommended.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that the way students study and take notes should not be evaluated solely in terms of speed or practicality; for students, the writing tool appears to be connected to how they process the information they learn. The notable aspect of handwriting is that it turns the act of recording information into a more conscious mental process and engages different skills simultaneously during learning. This does not mean that digital tools should be abandoned altogether; however, it does call into question the assumption that taking notes quickly with a keyboard is more efficient in every case. The fact that some of the research was conducted with 36 university students and that the study on calligraphy was small-scale leaves open the question of how valid the findings are across different age groups and conditions of use.