In a lecture hall where a three-hour-long lecture was being delivered, Mr. A had to sit through the entire session without leaving, as it would affect his studies. After the first hour passed, he started to pick up a pen and appeared to jot something down on paper. However, instead of taking notes on the lecture content, he drew spirals and monsters pacing back and forth.
The urge to doodle exists within all of us. Even if we insist we lack artistic talent, we still produce various spontaneous drawings. For example, when talking on the phone and the other party shares long life problems, we might start sketching teddy bears on nearby paper. Even U.S. presidents doodle during meetings—according to the book "Presidential Doodles," 26 presidents have been known to doodle. Politicians also often scribble casually while discussing important matters.
Time published an article stating that doodling is not merely a leisure activity but a bodily response that helps us concentrate better or focus more on what we hear. It cited psychologist Jackie Andrade from the University of Plymouth in southern England, who published this research in Applied Cognitive Psychology.
Andrade’s experiment involved two groups of 20 people each. He conducted this study on participants who had just completed an unrelated experiment. They listened to an audio recording inviting people to a 31st birthday party, which included names of guests, details about a newly decorated room, and a sick cat. One group was tasked with coloring shapes—boxes and small circles—without being told to doodle, so they knew what was expected. The other 20 sat quietly listening. Afterward, both groups were asked to recall who would attend the party. The coloring group remembered 7.5 out of 16 details, about 29% more than the quiet group, who recalled only 5.8 details.
Andrade’s study began in 2009 and clearly showed that doodling enhanced memory and focus. However, in 2024, Emily Spencer Mueller conducted a similar experiment but extended the listening time to over 45 minutes instead of just two. The results were not as positive as expected. Doodling did not reduce boredom or improve focus. So why do we engage in this behavior?
Psychologists and scientists have concluded that when we doodle during boring moments, it is simply a human mechanism prompting us to do something else. It is a behavior allowing trial and error, breaking from routine to find new engagement. Specifically, in situations like sitting in a lecture room where we feel pressured (unable to leave) and sleepy, the body may seek ways to stay alert. This response is not necessarily to help us listen better but to prevent daydreaming. Social pressure (such as feeling that leaving the room would be disrespectful) may trigger the body to respond by doing something feasible at that moment. Regardless, no explanation confirms that doodling improves memory retention or focus.
Nothing beats changing our approach to perception. Doodling is a passive activity that requires little thought or motivation. Therefore, it is recommended to make our brain more active or enthusiastic. Instead of continuous doodling, we should write summaries reflecting our understanding, such as mind maps or brief notes—not necessarily detailed transcripts. Alternatively, taking a short walk to increase blood and oxygen flow or drinking a cold glass of water can also help alleviate drowsiness and boost alertness.
In summary, doodling is not a bodily mechanism that enhances our brain’s focus. Rather, it is a coping mechanism that relieves discomfort and boredom. This raises an interesting question: in ancient times, many cave paintings might have originated from boredom. Even after millennia, humans maintain this behavior, and boredom may be the driving force behind continuous creativity. If doodling is such, it is not necessarily a bad thing.
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