The importance of doodling

Posted by Yvonne Baulderstone on April 2nd, 2009 at 12:09pm

How often do you find yourself receiving confused looks as you mindlessly doodle through an important meeting?

Doodling is often seen as an irrelevant act with no strategic value making the doodler appear disinterested in the task at hand. However for many with pen and paper at hand it is an unavoidable habit. A recent study by Jackie Andrade from the University of Plymouth has concluded that the act of doodling can improve information recall.

The study recruited participants without prior warning who had just attended another unrelated session. It was assumed they would be in a heightened state of boredom due to an implied expectation of going home.

Participants were then asked to listen to a tape they were told was boring. They were told not to remember anything but to write down the names of those attending the party (as discussed in the tape). Half of participants were told to colour in doodles while the other half were instructed to not doodle. Those in the doodle group recalled 29% more information on a surprise memory test than the non-doodlers. 

The conclusion was made that doodling can aid in keeping the brain alert in seemingly boring situations allowing greater information retention while those who do not doodle are more likely to drift off in other ways taking concentration away from the task at hand.

Doodling takes little energy and allows your brain to maintain concentration for more important issues. 

So next time you’re in a meeting and you find yourself nodding off, doodle.

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Posted in Imagination