Writing By Hand Or Typing On Keyboard? Study Identifies Best Way To Improve Brain Connectivity

The researchers noted that connectivity of different brain regions increased when participants wrote by hand, but not when they typed on a keyboard. (Credit: pixabay/ Pexels)

As technology advances, the traditional method of taking down notes with pen and paper is slowly losing popularity. While typing on a keyboard has become a faster and more convenient alternative, could there be a downside? Researchers have now made an interesting find: Writing by hand may boost brain connectivity compared to typing on a keyboard.

"We show that when writing by hand, brain connectivity patterns are far more elaborate than when typewriting on a keyboard. Such widespread brain connectivity is known to be crucial for memory formation and for encoding new information and, therefore, is beneficial for learning," said Professor Audrey van der Meer, co-author of the study whose findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.