As digital devices increasingly replace pen and paper, handwriting is becoming less common in schools and universities. Typing is often preferred because it is faster and more convenient, particularly for lengthy assignments. However, previous research suggests that writing by hand may offer important learning benefits, including better spelling accuracy and memory recall. Now, researchers in Norway have investigated whether the physical process of forming letters by hand also produces stronger patterns of connectivity in the brain.
Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology examined the neural networks involved in handwriting and typing. Their study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, found that brain connectivity patterns were considerably more elaborate when participants wrote by hand than when they typed on a keyboard. According to co-author Prof Audrey van der Meer, widespread connectivity between brain regions is important for forming memories and encoding new information, suggesting that handwriting may create conditions in the brain that are particularly beneficial for learning.
The study involved 36 university students who were repeatedly asked to write or type words displayed on a screen. For the handwriting task, participants used a digital pen to write in cursive directly on a touchscreen. During the typing task, they pressed keyboard keys with a single finger. Researchers recorded the participants’ electrical brain activity using high-density electroencephalography, or EEG, which involved 256 sensors positioned around the head. Brain activity was measured for five seconds during each writing or typing prompt.
The results showed increased connectivity between different areas of the brain when participants wrote by hand, but not when they typed. The researchers suggested that the combination of visual information and carefully controlled hand movements involved in using a pen contributes to brain connectivity patterns associated with learning. Forming each letter requires precise coordination between movement and the senses, providing the brain with richer information than the repetitive action of pressing keyboard keys.
Although participants used digital pens rather than traditional pen and paper, the researchers expect similar results from handwriting on paper. Van der Meer explained that the key difference appears to be the careful physical formation of individual letters and the greater use of sensory and movement information. The benefits are also unlikely to be limited to cursive writing, as printing letters involves similar controlled finger movements. This may help explain why children who primarily learn to read and write on tablets can sometimes struggle to distinguish mirror-image letters such as “b” and “d”, as they have less physical experience forming the shapes themselves.
The findings highlight the importance of maintaining handwriting opportunities in education, even as digital technology continues to develop. The researchers suggested that schools should ensure students receive at least a minimum amount of handwriting instruction and have opportunities to use pens during lessons. However, they also emphasised the need for balance. Handwritten notes may support learning and memory more effectively, while keyboards remain practical for producing long texts and essays. Understanding the advantages of each method could help students and educators choose the most appropriate writing tool for different learning tasks.
More information: Audrey van der Meer et al, Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: a high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom, Frontiers in Psychology. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945
Journal information: Frontiers in Psychology Provided by Frontiers
