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New Study Sheds Light on the Complexities of Cerebral Lateralization of Writting, Both on Paper and on Computer Keyboard

New Study Sheds Light on the Complexities of Cerebral Lateralization of Writting, Both on Paper and on Computer Keyboard

Does the way you write—by hand or on a keyboard—change how your brain’s hemispheres process language? And does that differ between left-handers and right-handers? Cerebral lateralization, the specialization of cognitive functions in one hemisphere of the brain, is well-established for spoken language, with the left hemisphere typically being the dominant one, especially for right-handers. However, the neural mechanisms underlying written language—both handwriting and typing—remain less studied, particularly in left-handed individuals.

A new study investigates the complex relationship between language lateralization and means of writing, shedding light on how brain hemispheres contribute to handwriting and typing in left-handed and right-handed individuals. The study, recently published in the European Journal of Neuroscience, was led by Dr Marietta Papadatou-Pastou, an Assοciate Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with contributions from a multinational team of researchers from institutions in Greece, Australia, and Canada. Mr. Christos Samsouris, PhD Candidate in NKUA, is the first author.

Writing is a fundamental tool for communication, learning, and creativity, allowing us to record ideas, share knowledge, and express ourselves across time and space. In today’s digital world, typing has become just as essential, enabling faster, more efficient communication and access to vast amounts of information. Beyond convenience, typing is essential in education and professional settings, shaping how we learn, work, and communicate. Additionally, research suggests that typing, like handwriting, engages cognitive processes related to language and memory, highlighting its importance in modern literacy.

Utilizing functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound (fTCD), a non-invasive technique that measures cerebral blood flow, researchers aimed to study cerebral lateralization in left-handers and right-handers. They then compared cerebral activation during written word generation to the activation during matched control tasks (namely letter copying for handwriting and random key presses for typing), to uncover the neural mechanisms underlying the linguistic component of written language and its lateralization.

Consistent with the pre-registered hypothesis, the study found no difference in the cerebral lateralization of the linguistic component of writing between handwriting and typing. These results highlight the potential of keyboard-based writing as a viable tool for studying the neural basis of written language. However, the evidence regarding potential differences between left-handers and right-handers was inconclusive.

Most neuroimaging studies on writing have focused primarily on right-handers, despite left-handers making up around 10% of the population. While our study did not find conclusive evidence for a difference between handedness groups, including both was essential for capturing the full variability of written language lateralization. A more inclusive approach -such as the one employed here – in future research will help refine our understanding of how writing is represented in the brain across individuals.

For more information or to access the complete academic paper, please visit the following link.

 

The “MOVE AS YOU ARE” Program – Project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program in the field of Sports

The “MOVE AS YOU ARE” Program – Project is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ program in the field of Sports

Globally, the Child Eye Health organization estimates that at least 450 million children have vision conditions requiring treatment, and 90 million children live with some form of vision loss. In Europe, the European Blind Union (EBU) (https://www.euroblind.org/) estimates that 30 million people are visually impaired. These figures highlight the significant scale of the problem and […]

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ranks first in Greece and Cyprus – Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2025 and US News Global University Rankings 2025-2026 announced

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens ranks first in Greece and Cyprus – Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings 2025 and US News Global University Rankings 2025-2026 announced

US News & World Report Media Company has recently published the results of its Best Global Universities Rankings for 2025-2026. In this 11th consecutive annual edition of the US News Best Global Universities Rankings, the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens placed 1st among Greek and Cypriot Universities and 216th worldwide. Aristotle University of Thessaloniki […]

Once again, top-scoring candidates choose the University of Athens

Once again, top-scoring candidates choose the University of Athens

It is a day of joy for many candidates who have recently sat the nationwide examinations for admission to Greece’s Higher Educational Institutions. Among this year’s top achievers—those scoring over 19,000 points—a significant number have once again set their sights on enrolling in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). One of the highest […]

Renovated ‘New Chemistry Laboratory Building’ opens officially – School of Education, Library of the Department of Economics

Renovated ‘New Chemistry Laboratory Building’ opens officially – School of Education, Library of the Department of Economics

In a particularly symbolic and emotional opening ceremony, the renovated ‘New Chemistry Laboratory Building’ was officially handed over to the academic community of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. This historic building lies at the heart of Athens, surrounded on three sides by Mavromichali, Navarinou, and Charilaou Trikoupi streets. With the completion of the […]

Prof. Dr. Xenofon Baraliakos, Medical Director of the Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, and Doctor Honoris Causa of the School of Medicine of the University of Athens, is the new president of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)

Prof. Dr. Xenofon Baraliakos, Medical Director of the Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, and Doctor Honoris Causa of the School of Medicine of the University of Athens, is the new president of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)

Prof. Dr. Xenofon Baraliakos, Medical Director of the Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne, and Professor for Internal Medicine and Rheumatology at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, is the new president of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR). During his two-year term, he plans to implement a number of measures aimed at further improving patient care […]

Alpha TV: NKUA ranks among the top 100 Universities in the world

Alpha TV: NKUA ranks among the top 100 Universities in the world

Rectors and Vice-Rectors from 54 Universities in Europe met at the historic main building of the University of Athens to participate in the 35th General Assembly of the UNICA Network of Universities from the Capitals of Europe, which took place for the first time in Greece earlier this month. At the same time, the University […]

The 35th General Assembly of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) closes at NKUA with great success and participation from across the continent

The 35th General Assembly of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) closes at NKUA with great success and participation from across the continent

With the symbolic strength of Athens’ scholarly tradition encompassing contemporary academic collaboration, the 35th General Assembly of the Universities from the Capitals of Europe (UNICA) closed at the historic main building of the University of Athens. The proceedings began on Thursday, 19 June, with the UNICA Administrative General Assembly. The meeting, held in a hybrid […]

University of Athens

The National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which was inaugurated on May 3, 1837, was initially housed in a renovated Ottoman building on the northeastern side of the Acropolis. This building has since been restored and now functions as the University Museum. Originally named the "Othonian University," after Otto, the first king of Greece, it consisted of four academic departments and 52 students. As the first university of the newly established Greek state, as well as of the broader Balkan and Mediterranean region, it assumed an important socio-historical role, which was pivotal in the development of specific forms of knowledge and culture within the country.

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