Why does writing make you smarter?

In a new scientific study, published in the journal “Frontiers in Psychology”, a Norwegian researcher, Prof. Audrey Van Der Meer and her team explain why writing by hand makes you potentially smarter than typing on the keyboard. In this age of the Internet and the omnipresence of new technologies in our daily lives, writing, and in particular writing by hand, may seem an unnecessary activity, even unnecessarily restrictive. However, writing by hand develops the cerebral part of every person, especially children, and therefore contributes to the development of each and every one.
During the experiments of these Norwegian researchers carried out with children and young adults who wrote by hand, neuronal activity was observed: the latter learned better and memorized better than typing on a keyboard. How much does it cost to make a Wikipedia page? This is one of the benefits of writing, among all the others...
Reading and writing make you smarter Science has not finished discovering new virtues in reading and writing. We might ask ourselves the question: why has relevant research in these two areas not been done before? We have been reading and writing anyway for several centuries! Of course, the concept of “intelligence” is an ambiguous concept, complicated to determine with precision. There is intelligence in a lot of things and there are many forms of intelligence, we agree! Reading and writing are extremely stimulating activities for the brain. This intellectual effort leads to a multiplication of connections in different regions of the brain. On a human scale, Wikipedia writers for hire is a relatively recent phenomenon. Overall, we have no idea what impact reading and writing has on us. We practice these two activities, without asking ourselves too many questions, a little mechanically. American researchers have shown that reading a novel leads to significant changes in the brain. Stories shape our lives, but also our minds. Reading and writing are able to transport us to a completely different environment, to make us feel the same feelings as the characters. We may feel like a book or writing one can change our lives forever. Perhaps these activities are then powerful enough to cause changes in the functioning and structure of our brain? Reading and writing also makes you more empathetic and happier. Of course, these are activities that allow us to relax, improve our vocabulary and our sense of spelling. But reading and writing also develop our capacities for thinking, creativity and empathy, according to the research of a Canadian psychologist, Maja Dike. Entering the new world of a story that we read or write has scientifically measurable effects on our brain, which last for several days after reading or writing. Changes in the brain after 'significant' readings were notably recorded in the left cerebral cortex, an area of the brain associated with language receptivity and motor sensations, according to a recent study conducted in the United States by Emory University.
Reading and writing allow you to open up to others According to recent studies, reading and writing can develop the feeling of empathy. This feat is found in all the arts (painting, music, etc.). When we read or write a fictional text, we are exposed to something totally new: a way of thinking different from ours and new events. When we read or write fictions, which sometimes can be harsh, we are not directly afraid of them, because we know that they are not real and that it is not us who live them. Once we get out of our reading or writing, back into the real world, two things happen: • We are better able to understand others. Because we have exposed ourselves to a way of thinking that is not ours. So we become more empathetic. This allows us to accept people who are different from us, as we learn to understand them as the pages go. • We are also less stressed because having faced the events in a fictional way, we are able to live the events with more serenity. This allows us to better understand unforeseen situations. The benefits of reading and writing every day Reading and writing every day brings invaluable benefits. Here are 10:
1- It stimulates the brain Several studies show that mental stimulation can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Like all other muscles in the body, the brain needs training to stay strong and healthy. 2 - It decreases stress Reading and writing decrease our state of anxiety. A novel can simply take us to another dimension. Reading and writing have the ability to alleviate our anxiety and completely relax us. 3 - It improves our knowledge When we read or write, we fill our brains with new information, which can be useful to us one day or the next. The more knowledge we have, the better equipped we are to face new challenges. 4 - It increases our vocabulary This is a benefit closely linked to knowledge: the more we read and the more we write, the more we discover new words. And the more likely it is to use them in our everyday language. Expressing oneself eloquently and precisely is an undeniable professional asset. 5 - It improves our memory To fully understand the story of a book that we read or write, we must remember a multitude of information: the characters, their past, their experiences, the nuances, all the secondary actions that are intertwined to the main action. Every time we form a new memory, we create synapses (areas of contact between neurons) and we solidify our existing synapses. 6 - It develops analytical skills Have you ever read a good detective novel and figured out who the killer was even before the book was finished? If so, you have demonstrated good critical and analytical skills. Reading and writing allow this. We can judge whether each story is well written, whether the characters are well developed, whether the plot runs smoothly, etc. 7 - It improves attention and concentration In our societies which revolve around the Internet and “multi-tasking”, our ability to concentrate is under attack from all sides. This hyperactive behavior generates stress and slows down productivity. When we read or write a story, it's quite the opposite. All our attention is directed to the work in question, as if the rest of the world is dissolving. 8 - It improves writing Writing better goes hand in hand with enriching your vocabulary. Reading or writing well-written stories is going to have a noticeable effect on our own writing style. Observing the cadence, fluidity and style of other authors will inevitably influence our own way of writing. 9 - It calms the mind Basically, reading and writing are relaxation activities. But, beyond this recognized quality, reading or writing a story can bring considerable inner peace. These two activities create a feeling of calm and serenity. 10 - Free entertainment It may cost nothing to read if you borrow the books from your city's media library. You will find books on all subjects there. There is a literary genre suitable for everyone who wants to read and write. Writing is even easier. You can recycle an old notebook and start writing, for example by attending face-to-face or remote writing workshops, as I offer on my blog every week. Reading and writing are sports Reading and writing are not only arts, but also sports where everyone progresses through training. These are sports like any other! To write correctly, you must know how to read. And to know how to read, you have to know how to live. The intelligence of a text therefore depends on the maturity of the reader. We are constantly evolving. At first, when we start an activity, it seems difficult. Everything is difficult before it becomes easy. Improving, whatever the field, takes investment and patience. Everything ends up being successful for those who are willing to pay the price! If you want to progress in writing, it is up to you to work day after day to advance in the chosen path. To write better, you need to read a lot, write a lot and broaden your knowledge greatly. We never stopped making progress... To write, to invent stories, it is the same discipline that it takes to prepare for a marathon. Granted, it can be a grueling combat sport. But, what intense pleasure and happiness afterwards! Adopting a lifestyle suitable for you to write is also a necessity. Even a marathon enthusiast must have a lifestyle adapted to his sport, right? The same goes for the person who aspires to write. Writing, reading, and learning every day are the three things that make you competent to progress in your writing practice.
As a conclusion You will understand, nothing is acquired by divination! We have nothing without pain! They may be trivialities, but they are real. By dint of writing, you will open areas in your brain that will make you, as you practice, smarter, more in line with yourself. Practice makes you better. Do not hide behind cumbersome excuses for your mind. Stop delaying telling your stories. Practice, practice and practice again! Until one day you wrote the long awaited word “END”.