News Summary

• As traditional handwriting is progressively being replaced by digital devices, it is essential to investigate the implications for the human brain.
• Brain electrical activity was recorded in 36 university students as they were handwriting visually presented words using a digital pen and typewriting the words on a keyboard.
• Connectivity analyses were performed on EEG data recorded with a 256-channel sensor array.
• We urge that children, from an early age, must be exposed to handwriting activities in school to establish the neuronal connectivity patterns that provide the brain with optimal conditions for learning.