

First, different people were asked to schedule various tasks on a calendar some would write with a pen in a physical notebook, others would use a tablet, and the last group a smartphone. The researchers performed a comparative study of three groups of people who would perform the same task to analyze this phenomenon. More specifically, the use of paper improves associating what and where of information, specifically in the hippocampus (the part of the brain involved in coding and memory retention that can be studied at a neurological level). Another group of researchers from the University of Tokyo made the following hypothesis in an article published this year in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience: Writing notes in a notebook will improve coding. Paper material provides physical spacing through Spatial-temporal signals to measure the text. These studies indicate the importance of visual and tactile signals for perceiving physical sizes and spatial locations. Another human behavioral reported the superiority of paper to computer screens in reading comprehension. One of the advantages of handwritten notes is that reading and writing on paper improves conceptual understanding. Similarly, several studies have reported that although writing on a computer saves time because it is a faster process, taking notes by hand improves students' memorization and word recognition. In contrast, the use of electronic devices inclines them to write passively. According to the study, one explanation for this exciting discovery is that writing with pencil and paper allows people to summarize and organize information in their own words and ensures more profound and natural coding. However, many researchers have found that taking notes by hand is a more effective way to learn and retain information than digital.Ī behavioral neuroscience study conducted by researchers at the University of California and Princeton University published in 2014 showed that students who take notes by hand perform better with conceptual questions than students who record notes on digital devices.

Is it better to write on paper or use digital devices? Which of the two formats works best for learning or memorizing information? Taking notes or writing using mobile devices or computers has become increasingly common.
