Handwriting activates broader brain networks than typing

Summary

While keyboards dominate modern classrooms, a new study in Frontiers in Psychology suggests handwriting may be irreplaceable when it comes to learning. Researchers found that writing by hand activates far more extensive and interconnected brain networks compared to typing, particularly in regions linked to memory and sensory processing. These findings provide new evidence that handwriting engages the brain in unique ways, raising concerns about the growing reliance on digital tools for education.As digital tools replace traditional handwriting in classrooms, concerns have arisen about how this shift might impact learning. Typing on a keyboard is often preferred because it enables children to express themselves more quickly and with less physical strain. However, prior research has shown that handwriting is linked to better memory retention, letter recognition, and overall learning outcomes. The fine motor movements involved in handwriting seem to stimulate the brain differently than typing, but the exact neurological mechanisms behind this difference remained unclear.To investigate, the researchers focused on brain connectivity, which describes how different brain regions work together to accomplish a task. By comparing brain activity during handwriting and typing, the team hoped to uncover whether the physical act of handwriting promotes more extensive brain communication patterns—patterns thought to support learning and memory formation.“The brain research on handwriting is really a spin-off of our infant brain research in the NuLab, our developmental neuroscience laboratory at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), where we show that babies are born with a brain that is ready to learn from day one,” said study author Audrey van der Meer, a professor of neuropsychology.For their new study, the researchers recruited 40 university students in their early twenties. To ensure consistency, only right-handed participants were included in the analysis...