The pen is more powerful than the keyboard
Why does handwriting beat typing for thinking and learning?
Taken from an article by Jonathan Lambert
If you're like most modern digital enthusiasts, it's probably been a while since you took a moment to write by hand on paper. The tedious process of putting thoughts down, letter by letter, on paper is becoming history in our screen-centric world, where handwritten letters and Post-it notes have been replaced by text messages and typed shopping lists, or even lists in apps from well-known retailers.
Electronic keyboards bring clear benefits and efficiencies that have undoubtedly increased our productivity. Can you imagine having to write all your emails by hand? To keep up with trends, many schools are introducing computers at pre-school age, which means that some children learn the basics of typing before they learn to write by hand. This means that they can type, but they cannot independently structure letters on paper.
However, abandoning this slower, more tactile way of expressing oneself may come at a considerable loss, given the growing body of research revealing the surprising cognitive benefits of handwriting. Handwriting is beneficial for both children and adults.
Neuroscientists have found that handwriting involves complex coordination between motor and visual systems.
Studies show that writing the alphabet instead of typing leads to better and more sustained letter recognition and understanding in children. Handwriting also improves memory and the recall of these words, laying the foundations for literacy and learning. For adults, taking notes instead of typing during lectures leads to a better conceptual understanding of the material.
"Very important things happen during the physical experience of handwriting," says Ramesh Balasubramaniam, neuroscientist at the University of California, Merced. "It has significant cognitive benefits."
These benefits have long been recognised among some authors, including Jennifer Egan and Neil Gaiman, who handwrite their stories to stimulate creativity.
And scientists are investigating why handwriting has such good effects. Recent brain imaging research shows that the power of handwriting comes from the relative complexity of the process and how it forces different brain systems to work together to reproduce letterforms in our brains and on paper.
What does your brain "do" when you write?
Both handwriting and typing involve moving our hands and fingers to create words on the page. But handwriting requires much more precise coordination between the motor and visual systems. So it seems to engage the brain in deeper ways, to support the learning process. You could say that the pen is more powerful than the keyboard.
Handwriting is probably the most complex motor skill the brain can master, says Marieke Longcamp, Cognitive neuroscientist at Aix-Marseille Université.
Sophia Vinci-Booher, a neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University, explains the complexity of handwriting. "Your fingers must each perform different tasks to create a recognisable letter."
In addition, your visual system is constantly processing the formatting of this letter. With each stroke, your brain compares the letter in formation with mental models of letters and words, and adjusts the movement of your fingers in real time.
What do we have to lose if we give up writing?
The most obvious consequence of screens and keyboards replacing pen and paper could be the ability of children to learn the basic building blocks of literacy - letters.
In addition, the increased use of screens has a negative impact on children's health, leading to lack of exercise and an increase in visual impairment. The problem is more complex than it seems at first sight. Excessive use of digital devices can contribute to a lack of physical activity, which affects children's overall development.
My child spends too much time on the phone
Parents often grumble that their children are illiterate and spend too much time on their tablets or phones, without realising the irony of their words, because they are the ones who set the example and have the power to limit the use of digital tools.
It is parents who put a phone in the hands of a child, even an infant, laying the foundations for addiction to digital devices instead of encouraging healthier and more creative activities.
Children are the mirror of their parents and their behaviour strongly reflects the environment in which they grow up. Just as parents model the behaviour they want to see in their children, children unconsciously imitate their parents' habits and routines. If parents spend a lot of time on their phones, it is likely that children will also reach for digital devices rather than engage in more creative and active activities. This phenomenon can be seen all around us; on pavements and pedestrian crossings, it is common to see children crossing the road carelessly, absorbed in their screens, unaware of their surroundings.
Causes of ADHD and PTSD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
ADHD is a neurological disorder characterised by attention problems, hyperactivity and impulsivity. The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but research suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Heredity plays an important role, as children whose parents have ADHD often inherit the disorder. Environmental factors such as exposure to toxins during pregnancy, low birth weight and brain damage can also contribute to the development of ADHD.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):
PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that develops after exposure to a severe traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, accident, violent attack or war. People with PTSD experience recurrent memories of the trauma, nightmares, severe anxiety and avoidance of situations that remind them of the event. Biological, genetic and psychological factors can increase the risk of developing PTSD. Prolonged exposure to stress and lack of support after trauma also contribute to the onset of this disorder.
Why is calligraphy also useful for children with post-traumatic stress disorder or attention deficit disorder?
Being aware of these causes can help parents understand the importance of creating a healthy environment for their children and limiting the use of digital devices in favour of more creative and active activities. Practicing calligraphy can be one such activity that not only reduces dependence on technology, but also has a positive impact on the cognitive function and emotional stability of children, especially those with ADHD and PTSD.
You can read more about this in the following studies:
- Dovepress - Effect of calligraphy training on hyperarousal symptoms for childhood (Dove Med Press).
- Lupine Publishers - Calligraphy Treatment of Children with ADHD: A Case Study (Lupine Publishers).
Using your smartphone while crossing a pedestrian crossing. Recorded with dash-cam and not using a mobile phone while driving..
Such behavioural patterning has profound consequences for a child's development. Screen time reduces opportunities for learning through play and interaction with peers, which is crucial for the development of social skills and creative thinking. In addition, continuous exposure to digital devices can affect a child's ability to concentrate and perceive hazards in the environment, which is clearly demonstrated in situations such as jaywalking.
Parents have a responsibility to show by their own example a balanced attitude towards technology and personal interaction. By encouraging activities that involve direct communication, reading books and physical play, parents can help their children develop healthier and more balanced habits that will have a positive impact on their overall development.
Setting such an example is not only a parental duty, but also an opportunity to show children the importance of being present in the moment and caring for their surroundings.
Slowing down and processing information
For adults, one of the main benefits of handwriting is that it simply forces us to slow down. It is possible to type what we hear verbatim during a meeting or a lecture. But often we are not actually processing the information - we are just typing blindly. If we take notes by hand, we can't write everything down, so we have to process the information, write key words or phrases and use drawings or arrows to process ideas. This helps to keep the information longer in the memory.
Such links and integration are still possible in typing, but they need to be done more deliberately. And sometimes, of course, efficiency wins. When you are writing a long essay, it is of course much more practical to use the keyboard.
Looking to the future
So what will happen to humanity if we give up writing and leave everything to robots? We may lose some of the fundamental cognitive processes that allow us to learn and think at our best. While some countries are trying to keep writing classes in schools, it is possible that the next generation will rely solely on digital tools, possibly sacrificing some of our thinking potential.
We will have more free time. Excellent. But didn't they say the same thing about the washing machine? So why not spend some of that time on calligraphy?
Calligraphy and skills maintenance
For those of you who don't want to miss out on these valuable skills and want to stimulate your brain function, I invite you to visit my a shop where you can find kits for self-learning calligraphy. You can also find free trial, which is suitable for a pencil. So you don't have to go shopping first.
Calligraphy is not just an art, but also a great way to maintain mental sharpness and finomotor skills. You can even do certain exercises and most of the silent scripts with a simple pencil, without any special tools.
Modern calligraphy with colourful markers in spring colours.
Using digital tools
Balasubramaniam points out that we do not have to abandon digital tools altogether to harness the power of the handwriting. So far, research shows that writing with a pen on a screen activates the same brain pathways as writing with ink on paper. It is the movement that matters, not the finished product.
Jonathan Lambert is a journalist based in Washington, D.C., covering science, health and politics. *Article excerpted from "Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning" (Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 11 May 2024).
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