Like reading paper books and electronic influences our memory and productivity

Why is it better to read paper books

Despite all the advantages of digital information sources, the past few years, there is increasing evidence that our brain prefers analog media.

according to a studyThe Pen Is Mightier Than the Keyboard: Advantages of Longhand Over Laptop Note Taking. psychologists at Princeton University and the University of California in Los Angeles, it is much easier to remember something important, writing is on hand. According to psychotherapist and expert in the field of journalism Maud Purcell (Maud Purcell), the reason for this may be that the letter encourages zone the brain known as the reticular activating system, which filters and brings clarity to the bulk of the information on which we concentrate.

It was found that the absorption of information from paper contributes to better retain it in memory, and increase productivity. Anne Mangen (Anne Mangen), Professor Reading Center at the University of Stavanger Norway, conducted a study in the framework of which he has given the participants the same 28-page detective story - someone on paper, but someone at Amazon reader Kindle. Then they asked a number of questions on the text.

Read stories from the paper gave more correct answers to questions related to time and chronology, than those who read from Kindle. When participants were asked to arrange 14 events in the correct order, then read a paper book showed the best result.

Anne Mangen

Scientists have yet to fully analyze this research. But Mangen connects favor of reading paper books with a deficit of metacognition. According to the professor, metacognition - that's how we relate consciously to information. "For example, how much time in the process of reading you spend on something that is good enough to understand the text and then solve the related problem" - says Mangen.

Participants in another studyMetacognitive regulation of text learning: on screen versus on paper. It had the impression that they are better comprehend information when reading from screens of electronic devices. Because of this, they swallowed the text much faster than those who read from the paper, and thought that the show better in a quiz on the text. As a result, fans of the traditional format not only won in terms of understanding the text, but also predicted better results.

No need to read all of the paper

With books the situation is clear, but whether the information the brain absorbs as good at reading newspapers, magazines and other physical media? Not necessarily.

"Length does seem a major problem, and it is closely related to a number of other parameters such as text structure and design. Whether the content is represented in a way that is required of you at the same time keep in mind the number of events or parts of the text? "- continues mango. In other words, the complexity and density of information can have an impact on the importance of the source text.

"It may be that for certain types of text or literary genres (for example, over-exciting books) source of almost no importance, while in the case of other genres (eg, cognitively and emotionally complex novel) source may be of importance for the understanding and perception of the book - explains Mangen. - But that's to be tested empirically. "

No need to pull the hand to press the button in the preparation of the next letter, if only in length, it is not comparable with the novel. Reading short messages on the screen can hardly interfere with understanding and memorization.

Printed and digital information can coexist peacefully

The printed information is not always as good for understanding and memorizing as digital. It is useful to remember that all media and technology have their own user interfaces. The user interface of the paper in some cases can better influence the memorization and learning complex information than electronic devices.

But in other cases, for example when showing presentations with audio-visual materials, such as a tablet device will be useful. There is some universal solutions. It all depends on a number of factors related to the content, the reader, the purpose of reading or situation.

Take your time when reading e-books

If you can not give up the e-book, it does not mean that all is lost for you. You probably think that absorb information faster than it actually happens, so faster reading books.

A simple solution is to slow down and pay more attention to the analysis of the material. This will help to perceive the information as well as reading from paper.