In one study (Andrade, 2010) participants listened to a phone message that contained details about an upcoming party. Participants were asked to write down the names of people who could attend the party and ignore the names of those who could not attend.
One group was instructed to doodle in little squares and circles on a piece of paper while writing down names; the other group just listened to the messages and only wrote down names.
Afterward participants were given a surprise memory test, after being specifically told they didn’t have to remember anything. The doodlers performed better in memory retention — almost thirty percent better!
Drawing has been shown to deactivate the default mode network which is associated with mind-wandering and self-evaluation. So it can be inferred that doodling can help with concentration by preventing mind-wandering and allowing the person to listen.
Author
Arya Salehi helps individuals discover their authentic selves so that they can feel their best and build awesome relationships.
Author of Panic in the Soup and host of the Bee Now podcast, Arya is a seasoned coach and facilitator. It’s all about guiding people back home to themselves. He lives in Roseville, CA.