In an age dominated by technology, most of us spend hours each day staring at screens, and the simple act of writing by hand has become increasingly rare. Yet researchers argue that abandoning the pen may come at a cost.
Handwriting engages the brain in ways that typing does not. The slower, more deliberate movements required to form each letter appear to strengthen memory and comprehension. Several studies have found that children who learn to write letters by hand recognise them more quickly than those who only use a keyboard.
None of this means we should throw away our laptops. But experts suggest that keeping a notebook nearby — and occasionally choosing a pen over a keyboard — could quietly sharpen the mind.