How Writing by Hand Benefits Your Brain, According to Neuroscientists

Key Points

• Writing by hand engages more areas of the brain, improving memory, comprehension, and creative thinking.

• Handwriting slows us down, giving time for reflection and helping process emotions or brainstorm new ideas.

• Journaling by hand can reduce anxiety, boost mood, and help organize thoughts in a more personal way.

In our digital-forward world , you may not even remember the last time you felt a pen glide on paper or a pencil scratch its way across the page. Throwing out a thought in your notes app or sending bricks of texts to a friend feels so much faster, so why bother writing by hand ? 

While typing is ultra efficient—and isn't going away anytime soon—that doesn't mean we should abandon the art of putting pen to paper entirely. In fact, neuroscientists have found some surprising benefits of writing by hand. 

Meet Our Expert

• Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D, a New York City-based neuropsychologist and director of Comprehend the Mind

• Fawad Mian, MD, board-certified neurologist, clinical neurophysiologist, and founder of Ascend Regenerative

• Jessica Tate, MS, LPCC-S, the chief clinical officer at Milton Recovery Centers

Related: 12 Analog Habits That Make Everyday Life Feel Less Overwhelming

The Benefits of Writing By Hand

While similar synapses fire off in our brains whether typing or writing, the latter comes with its own set of benefits. 

Improves Memory and Comprehension

Writing by hand requires more parts of the brain to work together at once since it utilizes movement, vision, attention, and language, explains Sanam Hafeez, Psy.D, a New York City-based neuropsychologist. "It requires brain power that typing does not, and can benefit our learning, memory, and comprehension," she says. 

Fawad Mian, MD, a board-certified neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist, points to a 2024 psychology study that measured EEG activity to compare both handwriting and typing. "Of note, keystrokes did not engage the brain the same way," he says. 

Helps Process Emotions

Handwriting naturally slows us down and allows us more time to consider an idea, situation, or emotion. "This could allow more time for reflection , which can make handwriting helpful when journaling or processing emotions," Dr. Hafeez says. 

Dr. Mian agrees, adding that journaling has been proven a powerful tool in lowering anxiety and boosting our mood . He says this has been measured in science, with notable research from James Pennebaker , PhD, who developed the "Expressive Writing Protocol," a therapeutic method in which subjects are instructed to write about traumatic events and unpleasant emotions. 

Tips

Jessica Tate, MS, LPCC-S, the chief clinical officer at Milton Recovery Centers, adds that typing can do this, as well. In general, "the act of putting thoughts and emotions into words can be useful," she says. So if handwriting doesn't work for you, don't pass on journaling altogether . 

Supercharges Brainstorming

Similar to the way handwriting helps with memory and comprehension , it may also help jumpstart the brainstorming process. Putting pen to paper can help us come up with creative solutions, find new ideas, and solve dilemmas. "If you are trying to work through a decision, write out what you are thinking before opening your laptop," Tate suggests. "Even five minutes can force you to identify what you actually think before you begin editing or reacting to other information." 

Again, it slows us down and naturally forces us to distill, reorganize, and process ideas versus simply recording them. This may help pave the way for creative solutions and new perspectives. 

Feels More Personal

This one's less based on data, and more about the feeling writing evokes. "Handwriting can feel more personal since there is no autocorrect, suggested response, or algorithm feeding us what to say," Dr. Hafeez says. "I do not believe we need to toss our tech, but maybe incorporating some handwriting in our lives is an easy way to practice things we no longer have to."  

This is particularly true today, where the writing process has been simplified to entering a prompt into a machine and getting hundreds of words written for you in mere seconds. 

4 Simple Ways to Write By Hand More Often

No need to write an entire novel by hand, but you can find little ways to incorporate more handwriting into your day. 

• An idea notebook:"Keep a small notebook by your bed so you can write down ideas, reminders, or anything else you don't want to forget throughout the day," Dr. Hafeez suggests. You don't need to run to it every day—just when a thought strikes.

• To-do lists:One easy change you can make is to start writing your daily to-do list by hand in the morning . Whether it's a to-list related to work or a running grocery list, it helps get you into the practice of writing by hand. 

• Handwritten notes:Dr. Mian recommends taking notes by hand whenever possible. (The act can help you remember them better, too.) "You don't have to write word for word verbatim," he says. "You really just need to be able to summarize what is being said." 

• Personal journaling:Journaling doesn't need to be grandiose or full of perfect prose. "I would also remove the expectation that every entry needs to be long or insightful," Tate says. "Write three sentences: Write down one thing that has been difficult, one thing that went well, or something you don't want to keep carrying around in your head."

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