The research doesn’t stop there! According to this article from the Huffington Post, Jackie Andrade, a psychology professor at Plymouth University who studied doodlers, found, “Doodling engages the brain’s ‘executive resources’ - processes that help us plan, multi-task and concentrate. Suddenly, doodling’s bad rap feels undeserved and more than a little unfair, no? What’s more, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Cognitive Psychology, doodlers find it easier to recall dull information than non-doodlers, because the latter are more likely to daydream. Researchers tell us doodlers are most likely trying to make abstract concepts concrete with images, or they might be processing the information they are being given, filling in the gaps of their understanding. While doodlers might appear inattentive to onlookers, this is rarely the case. For anyone who actively exercises the brain, doodling and drawing are ideal for making ideas tangible.” Imagine the impact this could have on student learning! Doodling Doesn’t Mean Disconnecting In an article in The Atlantic, author Steven Heller explains, “Drawing with pencil, pen, or brush on paper isn’t just for artists. Serious doodling actually creates a measurable change in your physical and neurological states. Research suggests doodling can calm us, help us process information, and act as a tool for creative problem solving. However, this abundance can lead to stress and a lack of focus. In the modern world, people are more overwhelmed than ever. Visit your local gift or bookshop and you’ll find a slew of journals and sketchpads promising to help stressed-out adults get in touch with their creative side.

Many researchers suggest doodling is much more than a fruitless endeavor or a pointless waste of time. If you can believe it, doodling has the capacity to improve memory, focus, and cognition. While doodling has been defined as “drawing or scribbling aimlessly,” I couldn’t disagree more.

Doodle art meaning in english