The Science of Handwriting: Boosting Memory and Brain Development

The Cognitive Power of Handwriting

I believe that our brains develop strong connections through writing on paper. One significant benefit is the improvement of our memory.

Handwriting Boosts Memory and Retention

Scientific Evidence on Note-Taking

Scientific surveys point out how taking notes help students to recall new information more easily and clarify their ideas. It also benefits learning new languages (Pinola, 2011).

The Reticular Activating System (RAS)

From a more scientific perspective, there is a stimulation of the Reticular Activating System (RAS). The RAS acts as a filter, allowing us to prioritize the information we are writing, making it easier to retain later (Pinola, 2011).

Similarly, a recent study showed that students who write by hand are better able to answer conceptual questions about the subject matter than those who take notes using a laptop (Ramirez, 2014).

Some people might argue that the goal is not to study while taking notes, but merely to write faster and capture all the information. However, those who prefer taking notes with a pen gain a significant advantage when they later study the subject.

Developing Skills Beyond the Keyboard

I also believe that handwriting helps us develop more skills than the use of keyboards.

Functional Specialization and Efficiency

It has been demonstrated that, contrary to typing, when we write by hand, our brain learns "functional specialization," which integrates movement control and concentration. These two elements are reflected in our capacity for optimal efficiency (Klemm, 2013).

The Link Between Writing and Reading

An interesting point is the relationship between writing and reading; the same areas of our brain are activated in both cases. Thus, it has been claimed that the practice of writing leads to an improvement in reading skills, as concluded by research led by Indiana University (Dower, 2014).

Handwriting: A Foundational Skill

It could be argued that the ability to write is something we can improve at any moment in our lives, and that these mental functions can be learned through other activities, such as playing musical instruments. However, not everybody can afford music lessons or technological devices like computers, but pen and paper are affordable.

Handwriting seems primordial for the primary development of our brain. Qualities such as efficiency are highly demanded nowadays, but to fulfill this requirement, I believe a strong foundation is necessary, which implies that children must learn handwriting.