How doodling helps

Without an outlet for doodling, your brain is prone to wander off during a long conference call. Even studies on cancer patients have found that some form of art has helped decrease stress. Beyond the cognitive benefits of attention and memory, there have been studies that show that drawing and making art is rewarding — and the brain shows it.

One study examined doodlers drawing freeform and coloring a geometric pattern and found that the activity stimulated more blood flow to the prefrontal cortex.

Sound familiar? The same participants also reported feeling more creative and able to problem solve after the exercise. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

Some scientists have theorized that the brain has two different systems of thought. One is your mind's default mode and is used while you're absentmindedly puttering around. The other is more active and is engaged when you're intentionally focusing on one thing. The default mode of thinking, often called the subconscious, is an extensive area of psychoanalytic study that's long been thought to illuminate fundamental personality traits.

Medical professionals use doodling as a way to access this subconscious thought, since a patient's simple drawings often correlate with the unknown output of their subconscious mind. Psychologists have used doodling as a way to assess one's mental state, including signs of mental illness, as well as the patient's personality, attention span and learning abilities.

For example, a psychologist might ask a child to doodle whatever comes to mind, then assess the drawing for signs of short-temperedness, timidness or an active imagination. This link works because doodling is posited to be pictures of self-expression , and we all know that people show who they really are when they're not pretending to be someone else. Ergo, when doodling and not focusing on anything in particular, your true mind can be revealed. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice.

Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Doodling can keep you from zoning out in meetings The secret memory trick you've been doing all along.

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