How Does the Act of Writing Affect Your Brain?
The positive mental effects associated with writing extend beyond the therapeutic impact of transcribing one’s thoughts and ideas.
According to a functional magnetic resonance study conducted by neurologists from the University of Greifswald, accustomed writers engage more parts of their brains when writing compared to their beginning counterparts.
As per these findings, it is evident that writing has numerous positive effects on the brain. Here, we will discuss how writing affects your mind and the methods for realizing optimal mental growth.
For time efficiency, engage Mypaperwritten.com, thus realizing timely creation of high quality, affordable essays.
Keeping your brain in good shape
Apart from boosting brain-hand coordination, writing shows the same effect on the brain, as mental tasks. When writing, you engage the reticular activating system (RAS), which helps to realize more focus on activity.
As a result of the engagement of multiple parts of the brain when writing, you boost the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF), which are critical for brain functioning.
The BDHF is a family of proteins responsible for the regeneration of worn-out brain cells. As a result of maintaining sufficient levels of BDNF, you boost your cognitive ability, preventing diseases associated with aging.
Writing Helps You Master Your Focus
During the process of handwriting, you give your brain ample time to familiarize with content, therefore, grasping more material. As opposed to typing, it allows for sub-conscious transcription.
Also, writing on paper prevents various distractions associated with modern writing gadgets. Owing to the slow-nature of handwriting, you master more focus and realize improved creativity.
For students, handwriting offers more benefits as it familiarizes them with notes. That enables them to jot short, understandable notes as opposed to typing content verbatim.
Stress Relief
Among the top methods of resting your mental worries is expressive writing. By putting your fear into perspective, you can seek solutions and adapt to the stressful changes.
Also, a stress relief journal guides you on reflection of your errors, thus helping you rectify the habits that cause many of your stresses. Moreover, reflective journals ensure that you don’t suppress emotions, therefore, relieving you of negative thoughts and feelings.
Although it is not a remedy for all stress-causing elements, materializing your worries helps you understand your predicament, and creates a highway for opening up to others.
Handwriting boosts creativity
Writing by hand engages many parts of your brain and maximizes focus. As such, it helps you realize more creativity and grasp the ideas of the assigned projects.
Combating Dyslexia
As is the nature of muscles, the brain requires exercise to regenerate dead cells and accumulate more tissue.
Thanks to the effect of writing to the brain, you can maintain a healthy supply of hormones responsible for brain cell reconstruction. By doing this, you boost your cognitive ability, thus combating memory loss.
Besides improving memory function, writing increases the coordination of various spheres of your brain and hands.
Increases Comprehension
Although typing is widely used in the class note-taking, many tutors insist on jotting notes by hand. According to researchers, taking notes by hand is more fruitful for comprehension. That is because handwriting requires students to actively listen to the tutor, understand the material, and put it into their own words.
As such, students can recall lessons when perusing notes and apply elements learned during class time.
Handwriting vs. Typing
While many agree on the benefits of writing, the never-ending debate is in the best medium for writing. However, it is critical to note that both methods of note-taking are ideal for various situations.
For instance, typing allows you to realize faster writing speeds, therefore, covering a more substantial part of spoken content. Note-taking, on the other hand, reduces the rate and helps you familiarize with the material before transcription.
Thus, it is vital to identify when best to use each option of taking notes in order to reach optimal performance.