Filling scribbled paper is not a waste of time or a distraction. On the contrary, it promotes mental concentration and stimulates memory , according to a study from the University of Plymouth published in the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology . The researchers subjected 40 people to a series of experiments in which they listened to a two-and-a-half-minute phone call and then had to remember names and places mentioned in it. Half of the volunteers painted on a sheet of paper while on the phone. The other half was left to her own free will.
In the end, all the volunteers had to write down eight names and eight places mentioned in the message. Those who had scribbled on paper recalled an average of 7.5 while those who did not draw got a 5.8. "In everyday life, scribbling can be a way to keep your attention on a boring task and avoid unnecessary distraction, " concludes the psychologist Jackie Andrade, who is responsible for the study.
