A new study has revealed that writing with the hand by using a pen, and not typing, boosts learning and memory in individuals.
The study found that writing with the hand forms patterns of electrical activity, which has been linked with forming memories.
Audrey van der Meer and Ruud van der Weel, psychologists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, conducted the study involving college students.
The participants were tasked with either typing or handwriting a word shown on a computer screen using a digital pen while wearing caps fitted with sensors to measure brain activity.
They found that handwriting triggered increased activity not only in areas associated with movement but also in regions linked to learning and memory, suggesting unique cognitive processes at play.
Unlike typing, handwriting strengthens connections between the brain’s outer and central parts.