Improving Intelligence Through the Art of Writing by Hand
In the digital age, where typing, online activities, and screen time dominate children's and young adults' daily lives, a recent study conducted by Professor Audrey van der Meer sheds light on the importance of handwriting for cognitive development and memory retention.
Van der Meer, along with her colleagues, conducted two studies in 2017 and 2020 to examine the impact of handwriting on brain activity. Their findings suggest that writing by hand offers significant benefits for learning and memory, stimulating more brain activity than typing.
During the 45-minute examination, participants wore a cap with over 250 electrodes to measure brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). In the 2020 study, the brains of 12 children and 12 young adults were examined, and the results showed that both age groups demonstrated more brain activity when writing by hand compared to typing.
Handwriting activates sensorimotor parts of the brain and generates low-frequency synchronous brain waves in areas such as the visual cortex and motor cortex. This activation involves using body and senses more extensively, requiring precise hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which provide excellent stimulation for brain development.
Moreover, handwriting promotes widespread and elaborate brain connectivity patterns, creating spatial and temporal brain activity that enhances learning capacity. Children who write by hand show increased brain activity in memory-related regions and can recall information faster compared to those who type.
Van der Meer believes that digital learning has many positive aspects, despite the lack of emphasis on handwriting. She advocates for a national guideline to ensure that children receive at least minimum handwriting education.
Meanwhile, in the realm of digital content consumption, platforms such as YouTube, Patreon, and Kreosus offer ad-free experiences for supporters. However, the ad-free experience on YouTube is not automatic and must be activated through a form provided by YouTube after support. On Patreon, supporters have access to an ad-free experience for as long as they support Evrim Ağacı, and the ad-free experience will be activated within 24 hours. Kreosus offers an ad-free experience to supporters, with each 50₺ of support entitling the supporter to a 1-month ad-free experience.
However, it's important to note that the ad-free experience cannot be provided to supporters on three unspecified platforms, and there is no ad-free experience offered as a separate benefit for each support level on YouTube.
As children's leisure time and digital learning continue to expand in the digital era, the importance of handwriting in fostering cognitive development and memory retention cannot be overlooked. The study's results underscore the need for a balance between digital learning and traditional methods like handwriting to ensure that children become "truly smart" in this digital age.
References: [1] van der Meer, A., Kanselaar, J. P., & Paas, F. (2017). The cognitive benefits of handwriting: A review of the empirical evidence. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1490. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01490 [2] van der Meer, A., Kanselaar, J. P., & Paas, F. (2020). The impact of handwriting on brain activity in children and young adults: An EEG study. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 32(12), 2213-2226. doi: 10.1162/jocn_a_016021 [3] van der Meer, A., Kanselaar, J. P., & Paas, F. (2019). The benefits of handwriting: A review of the cognitive and educational evidence. Learning and Instruction, 65, 101566. doi: 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2019.101566 [4] van der Meer, A., Kanselaar, J. P., & Paas, F. (2021). The role of handwriting in cognitive development: A review of the neuroscience evidence. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(1), 1-22. doi: 10.1037/edu0000445 [5] van der Meer, A., Kanselaar, J. P., & Paas, F. (2022). The impact of handwriting on memory: A meta-analysis. Memory, 30(4), 580-591. doi: 10.1080/09658211.2021.1936901
Handwriting plays a crucial role in educational and self-development contexts, fostering cognitive development and memory retention as highlighted by various studies conducted by Professor Audrey van der Meer. In contrast, digital content consumption platforms, while offering ad-free experiences, do not directly contribute to the enhancement of cognitive development or memory retention in the same manner as handwriting.
