Handwriting and typing engage the brain differently, and research suggests that handwriting can lead to better memory retention compared to typing.

From your document: Writing by hand engages more areas of the brain linked to visual processing and motor skills, which can enhance memory and understanding. Studies from Princeton University and UCLA have demonstrated that students who take handwritten notes using notebooks such as the inq hardcover notebook and spiral notebooks retain more information and perform better, particularly when critical thinking is involved. Handwriting requires deeper mental processing compared to typing, which often leads to verbatim transcription and less cognitive effort.  Additionally, the act of writing by hand creates a tactile connection to the information, helping to cement it in your mind through motor memory.

Handwriting activates a broader network of brain regions involved in motor, sensory, and cognitive processing. Several studies suggest that handwriting promotes superior memory retention compared with typing, a phenomenon that is probably associated with the more extensive neural engagement that handwriting demands. Handwriting results in more complex brain connectivity patterns, enhancing learning and memory. This study used EEG data from 36 students to compare brain activity while writing by hand and typing. Researchers found that writing by hand activates far more extensive and interconnected brain networks compared to typing, particularly in regions linked to memory and sensory processing.

Overall, handwriting engages the brain in unique ways that can enhance memory retention and understanding, making it a valuable practice for learning and note-taking.