🔴 🖋 ⌨️ **Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: a high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom**
_“Our results reveal that whenever handwriting movements are included as a learning strategy, more of the brain gets stimulated, resulting in the formation of more complex neural network connectivity. It appears that the movements related to typewriting do not activate these connectivity networks the same way that handwriting does.”_
Van der Weel FR and Van der Meer ALH (2024) Handwriting but not typewriting leads to widespread brain connectivity: a high-density EEG study with implications for the classroom. Front. Psychol. 14:1219945. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1219945.
#OpenAccess #OA #Research #Article #DOI #Education #Psychology #Brain #Neuroscience #Learning #Handwriting #Writing #Typing #Typewriting #Academia #Academic @science @psychology
So many questions...
Does handwriting with a stylus on a tablet lead to the same results as pen and paper?
Answer in the study: digital pens were used. I'm assuming they mean the same thing as what I mean by stylus.
Were the subjects who were typing touch typists? What speed can they type at? 10 fi gers vs 2 fingers?
Turns out they could only type with the right index finger! That's a far cry from a touch typist! I wonder if the results would be similar when the typists can type as they are used to, what feels natural to them.
@CleoQc In the method section of the report, the authors give the reason for limiting the participants.
@bibliolater
to be clear, I am not doubting the study. I am wishing for a follow-up!
Wow, hunt and peck only. That is extremely limiting. AND typed words do not appear while writing! It's really comparing two entirely different things.
The relationship to memory activation may be there but it's still a big leap from an EEG study to say handwriting is better for learning. Massive conclusion for something so clearly insufficient to draw it.
@faassen
There are many studies that point to handwriting being better than typing. Each adds just a little part to the puzzle, and none is the definitive study.
@bibliolater
Well, I think this experimental design adds very little to that evidence, if anything. I would rather read a review of the better studies.
@bibliolater
Maybe there are some studies that compare comprehension after asking people experienced at handwriting and typing to copy some text. The limitations of EEG seem to seriously cripple the ability to properly compare typing and writing too.
@bibliolater
Since you ask, it seems to me, a non- neuro scientist, that they are comparing a task that is fluid, engrained, almost natural, with a task that is not fluid. Hunt and peck with a single finger is disruptive to the thinking process. A touchtypist on their preferred keyboard would only think about the content they're typing, not how they're typing it. Does that make sense?