Are you an old-fashioned hand writer, choosing this over the convenience of the keyboard? Would you rather write lists on a sheet of paper, than place your reminders on your smartphone? Does letter writing — whether giving or receiving, make you happy?
If you answered yes to any or all of the above, then congratulations, you have been training your brain properly.
While there have been proposals for schools to remove teaching cursive writing to children, as seen in several articles such as this one where the subject has been pulled out of the Common Core Curriculum Standards, psychologists and neuroscientists have pointed out the benefits of learning (and continuing) to write by hand.
Here are eight reasons why:
1. Handwriting activates a unique neural circuit, which makes learning easier. Cognitive psychologist Dr. Stanislas Dehaene from the College de France says the handwritten word stimulates our brain.
2. More ideas are expressed when one writes by hand.
3. Cursive writing may be a path to treating dyslexia, as it aids in preventing the reversal and inversion of letters, a common dyslexic occurrence, seen in this New York Times article by Maria Konnikova, pointing to a 2012 study by Dr. Diane Montgomery of the UK’s Middlesex University.
4. Note taking among college students is a good memory booster, as it helps them better understand concepts and facts, versus typing on a keyboard where information is not properly retained. Lizette Borreli writes more about these studies in Medical Daily .
5. Writing by hand strengthens the learning process thereby producing a healthier mind, while typing produces “mindless processing.”
6. Handwriting is a key step in cognitive development. This is especially acknowledged by schools in France where cursive writing is first taught to students in primary school.
7. Writing by hand — and even going beyond that — sketching, drawing, doodling, is a necessary mode of human connection. It is probably the “most beautiful manifestation in human relations.” Liza Kirwin in her book, “More than Words,” currently being shown at the Smithsonian Archive of American Art, shows various writers and artists give a glimpse of the beauty of handwriting and hand-drawn work.
8. Handwriting entails movement, from the holding of the pen to the touching of the paper to create letters; thus is considered a good sensory motor exercise. A study entitled Digitizing Literacy: the Haptics of Handwriting revealed that in handwriting, the brain receives feedback from a person’s motor actions which helps establish a connection between reading and writing.
Writing by hand is considered a skill since it involves a perceptual component and handling of some technical tool (pen, pencil, paper) resulting in something visual; it is also a personalized representation of ourselves. We write reminders, notes, lectures, articles, letters, love letters, Christmas, Valentine, birthday cards, or just scribble a grocery list or sign on our checks. But whatever type of handwriting we do, whenever we do so, we are giving ourselves the gift of brain training and brain exercise. In this digitized world, there is nothing wrong with keeping the tradition of hand writing, because behind your signature, is your soul.
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Really liked the article . I really would appreciate if we could get more updates, specially on how to improve memory also.
Hello Vijay,
Thank you & we’re glad you liked the article. Hope you’ve subscribed to our page (https://www.neeuro.com/subscribe/) so you can get exclusive updates! We are even giving away FREE Neeuro Brainwave headgear with Memorie app before we launch on Indiegogo.
Check this blog too on how to exercise your brain for a healthier mind! https://www.neeuro.com/exercise-your-aging-brain-other-brain-strengthening-habits/
Love and light,
Gina
It’s really a good article. A hand writing is a multi-process in our neurons, especially when u need to find a word by word.
I really appreciate articles like this. I find this highly informative. This is something you don’t normally find on ordinary reading materials.
Hi Dennis,
Happy to know that you find this article useful.
Hope you have signed up to continue reading our blogs and also to have the chance to be one of the first owners of our Neeuro Brainwave headgear and Memorie app, which exercises the brain for a healthier mind!
Best,
Gina
Terrific post but I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more. Bless you!
I agree, writing improves the memory, and we retain the information. Even when you can’t remember the spelling of words,mid you write it down you are able to see if it is correct. Writing is good exercise for the brain and hands I guess. I write down all my favorite recipes in old diaries..
Hello Evlyin
Writing by hand, from simple to complex things, definitely is a good exercise for both the brain and the hand.
It is heartening to know that you continue to do so.
All the best,
Gina
I really like this, writing is the most significant asset of your own success!
We are happy that you agree that writing is an essential tool for exercising our brain and not just our body!
We think while writing and the process is certainly helpful to keep us alert! Thanks for your comment!
Writing by hand is a good cognitive exercise,it’s eye that tells the brain to steer the hand to write down. So it registers both mental and physical shining.
I am an ardent advocate of handwriting. I also feel typing is mindless occupation.
I am a brain tumour patient at TTSH. This article really helps me to understand more about de function of de brain n correct exercise to keep de brain functions well
I used to enjoy learning about handwriting analysis and believe it to be a useful tool as it is a tangible reflection of the writer. There is a special quality to an individuals writing that is akin to the unique sound of someone’s voice and I will respond to a loved one’s writing similarly as I would to their voice or their photo.
I have watched my penmanship evolve (degrade with disuse) over time. There is an easily discernable difference between the writing of a hurried, romantic or angry mood of a writer.
That’s the reason why I have just ordered online 2 items of Sailor fountain pens with medium-fine 14k nibs – Manyou Metallic Green and Meigetsu Ivory Lame, besides the Pelican and Shaeffers that I am already using. Great timely article. Thanks.
Fantastic web site. Lots of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your sweat!
I am happy to know that the handwriting is not only creative and also a brain excercise and it will rejuvenate the functional efficiency of brain. This is an eye opener to computer dependent present generation.
The handwriting, not only adds to an identity and also generate interest in the subject, provide access to reasoning, probe and keep and sustain the Interest and memory of the subject. I write cursive when I am slow and contemplative, and resort to round writing when I feel it should be fast. In fact, I love writing.
I try to write something every day. Have kept so many nice pens and beutiful note books on my work desk.
It s a sort of meditation when we write and definitely ,new ideas do come to ur mind while writing.
Writing on paper now also has become a class thing and it also gives a feeling of intellectual richness.
i really love the article! It reminded me of my habit before that i use to write in doing my review. Thank you very much! Hope to read more on improving my memory especially that I am in law school.
i agree that handwriting is essential for our memory and brain training. Our hands are a source of communication with our brain. Did you notice when you are confuse about some matter and when you write down your problem on a piece of paper and then gradually you realize that the confusion has been minimize and things become clearer tha before. handwriting is source 2 enhance our brain and memeory.