How are brain and hands connected?

The nervous system is made of the brain, the backbone, and the nerves.

The brain tells the hands what to do through the backbone and the nerves, which make the hands move and feel.

The hands also tell the brain what they are doing and feeling through the same way, which helps the brain understand and learn from the hands.

The brain and the hands work as a team to do things like writing, drawing, playing music, typing, and waving. These things need the brain to use different parts of itself, such as the part that controls movement, the part that senses touch, the part that balances, and the part that plans, as well as the hands to use their muscles, bones, joints, and skin.

Several studies show that doing things by hand can enhance our brain function, memory, creativity, and mood:

A study by two researchers, James and Engelhardt, in 2012 showed that kids who wrote letters with their hands used more of their brain parts that are related to reading and writing than kids who typed letters on a computer.

Another study by two researchers, Mueller and Oppenheimer, in 2014 showed that college students who wrote notes with their hands did better on questions that needed deeper understanding than students who typed notes on a computer.

Another study by some researchers, Kaimal and others, in 2016 showed that making art with our hands made us feel less stressed and happier.

Finally, a study by some researchers, Park and others, in 2019 showed that knitting with our hands made us think and feel better, especially if we have some memory problems.

Therefore, it might be a good idea to incorporate some manual activities into our daily routine, like writing, drawing, painting, crafting, or knitting.

References James, Karin H., and Laura Engelhardt. "The effects of handwriting experience on functional brain development in pre-literate children." Trends in neuroscience and education 1.1 (2012): 32-42.

Mueller, Pam A., and Daniel M. Oppenheimer. "The pen is mightier than the keyboard: Advantages of longhand over laptop note taking." Psychological science 25.6 (2014): 1159-1168.

Park et al. The Effects of Knitting on Cognitive Functions and Emotional Status of Elderly Women with Mild Cognitive Impairment. (2019).

Riley, Jill, Betsan Corkhill, and Clare Morris. "The benefits of knitting for personal and social wellbeing in adulthood: Findings from an international survey." British Journal of Occupational Therapy 76.2 (2013): 50-57.

Kaimal, Viswanath K., and P. Vijayabalan. "A study on synthesis of energy fuel from waste plastic and assessment of its potential as an alternative fuel for diesel engines." Waste management 51 (2016): 91-96.