Your pen aimlessly wanders across the page, creating an array of swirls, circles, and hearts. Then you hear the droning of voices around you cease, and so you look up. The professor is staring at you. There is a look of annoyance on his face. This quickly changes to disbelief as you repeat back every word that he has just said. And all that despite your filled margins. In fact, it may be because of those very pen strokes that you were able to absorb so very much of your professor's boring lectures.
A Study
A study by Applied Cognitive Psychology established that those who doodle actually have a higher retention rate than those who took no notes and simply listened.
Forty people were involved in this study and had to listen to a long, boring, telephone message about an upcoming part. Twenty of the participants in the study were given shapes to fill in while the message played. The other twenty had no distractions. Additionally, ten of the doodlers were also given paper in which to write down the names of those attending the party. When later questioned, none of the participants were allowed their notes or doodles. They were asked to name who had been invited to the party.
Overall, the doodlers scored far better than those who had no visual distraction. The doodlers retained, on average, 7.5 of 16 pieces of information, as opposed to the non-doodlers, who only retained 5.8 pieces of information.
Speculation
Co-researcher of the study Jackie Andrade wrote that doodling allows focus because it is a task that doesn't use too much brainpower, but uses enough of the brain power to keep the brain from getting bored. So the doodler can listen and doodle without the daydream state that boredom can often induce. It is speculated that the brains inability to stay solely focused on one task comes from a primitive instinct, in which completely being absorbed in a task could have meant life or death.
Children with ADHD are often using doodling to keep on task. Sunni Brown writes that people (children especially) use doodling as a way to check back in and start listening again. “It's their bodies way of getting somewhat back into the reality of where they are sitting.”
In Conclusion
So doodling often increases one's focus instead of detracting from it. Doodling can be used as a psychological tool to control children with ADHD or ADD. It helps to focus children with these conditions(and adults too!). But doodling is good for anyone, as long as it is kept simple. It is crucial that your brain is spending more energy listening than planning out a doodle.
Sources
Works Cited
~"Bored? Try Doodling To Keep The Brain On Task : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
"Doodling Increases Focus and Attention." Economic News and Political News — Politonomist. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
"Enchanted Mind - The Art of Doodling." Welcome to Enchanted Mind - HOME. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
"Enchanted Mind - The Art of Doodling." Welcome to Enchanted Mind - HOME. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
Fitzpatrick, Jason. "Doodling Increases Focus and Recall." Lifehacker, Tips and Downloads for Getting Things Done. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
Keim, Brandon. "A Sketchy Brain Booster: Doodling | Wired Science | Wired.com." Wired.com. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
Redinger, Kelly. "Study: Doodling Helps You Pay Attention - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. 26 Feb. 2006. Web. 30 Dec. 2011. .
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