Emma Thompson's Right – Writing By Hand Is Great For Our Brains

Emma Thompson poses for photographers upon arrival at The Albies on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in London. (Photo by Millie Turner/Invision/AP)A recent clip of Dame Emma Thompson speaking to chat show host Stephen Colbert about artificial intelligence (AI) has gone viral. Describing her “intense irritation” with the tech, the Love Actually actor added: “I write longhand on a pad, because I believe that there is a connection between the brain and the hand. So it’s very important to me.”Colbert seemed to agree with the sentiment, replying, “if I have to memorise a part... I have to write it out by hand”. And according to psychotherapist Eloise Skinner, who’s paired with pen company Scriveiner, they might have science on their side.View this post on InstagramA post shared by The Late Show (@colbertlateshow)What benefit does handwriting have on our brains?A 2024 Frontiers article suggests that handwriting, but not typing, is linked to “widespread brain connectivity” – connections which are “crucial for memory formation and for encoding new information and, therefore, are beneficial for learning”.This follows a 2021 paper, which showed that writing on paper elicited stronger brain activity than writing on a tablet or smartphone. Researchers said “the unique, complex, spatial and tactile information associated with writing by hand on physical paper is likely what leads to improved memory”.And a 2022 systematic review found students who took handwritten notes performed better on tests and quizzes than those who typed their notes.No wonder, then, that psychotherapist Eloise Skinner said “research indicates that brain activity is more engaged during handwriting than using other forms of recording information, and our memory and brain health are also supported”.“Writing by hand can also help us with processing our thoughts, improving our spelling and grammar, and challenging us to develop a more deliberate, personal voice, especially when compared to writing options that encourage auto-correct or predictive language,” she added.Speaking to HuffPost UK, Kirsty Cameron, marketing manager at Scriveiner, said: “Emma Thompson is right, handwriting keeps us closer to our own thoughts.“When we write by hand, the brain works harder to form language, memory, and meaning. It slows the pace and encourages deeper thinking, which is why so many people find they feel more creative and more connected to what they’re writing.” It may be a useful antidote to potential AI downsides “In a world where AI can generate words instantly, handwriting is how we stay present with our own ideas,” Cameron argued. A MIT study found that using generative AI appeared to reduce brain connectivity. “Cognitive activity scaled down in relation to external tool use,” they found. Given how helpful handwriting might be at increasing “widespread” brain connectivity, then, it really does seem Emma’s onto something.Related...'Just F**k Off': Emma Thompson Shares Her Very Sweary Take On The Rise Of AI In HollywoodJames Cameron On Dangers Of Artificial Intelligence: ‘I Warned You Guys In 1984!'I Just Learned The Real Reason Planes Are White (And It's Surprisingly Technical)

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