Colouring has become an increasingly popular hobby among adults in recent years. Many people find it to be a relaxing and enjoyable activity. Some also claim that colouring can help improve memory. In this article, we will explore the research behind whether colouring and memory are linked.
The Claims Behind Colouring and Memory
There are a few key theories behind why colouring is thought to potentially help boost memory:
- Focusing on colouring helps train the brain to focus. This improved focus could lend to better memory retention.
- The act of colouring is meditative. It allows the brain to switch into a more relaxed, mindfulness state. This state is linked to lower stress, which helps optimize memory functioning.
- Colouring requires recognizing distinctions between shapes, objects, and colours. This pattern recognition may lend to stronger memory encoding.
Overall, the ideas behind colouring and memory deal with cultivating focus, mindfulness, and pattern recognition. Researchers hypothesize that these mechanisms lend themselves to better memory capabilities.
Studies on Colouring and Memory Ability
Most research specifically looking at colouring and memory is limited. However, some small studies provide initial insight into the potential effects of colouring on memory.
One 2016 study had two groups of adults colour mandalas, which are circular abstract designs. One group coloured structured mandalas, while the other coloured free-form scribbles. After colouring, both groups showed improved memory on a spatial recognition task. However, the structured mandala group performed significantly better. This suggests that the meditative quality of structured colouring may boost memory more than unstructured colouring.
Another small study in 2017 had adults colour a mandala outline either before or after memorizing a list of words. Those who coloured before memorizing were able to recall more words on a memory test afterwards. This provides evidence that colouring first primes the brain for improved memory function.
While these studies had very small sample sizes, they provide initial evidence for a memory benefit from colouring structured designs. More research is still needed to investigate this effect further.
How Colouring May Boost Memory
Researchers have proposed a few key ways that the act of colouring may lend itself to improved memory function:
- Lowered stress – Colouring elicits a relaxation response in the brain. This lowered stress state is linked to better memory capabilities, as excess stress damages regions involved in memory.
- Increased focus – Maintaining focus on the detail-oriented process of colouring strengthens abilities of concentration. This translates to better focusing and encoding of memories.
- Mindfulness – Colouring produces a mindfulness state of being focused in the present moment. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to help memory through heightened attention and lessened mind-wandering.
- Brain activation – Colouring complex designs activates areas of the brain involved in focus, concentration, and memory. Using these regions strengthens neural connections.
While more research is still needed, these mechanisms provide a strong foundation for why colouring may lend itself to improvements in memory.
Other Mental Benefits of Colouring
In addition to potential effects on memory, colouring books and activities have also been linked to other cognitive benefits:
- Reduced depressive and anxious thoughts
- Increased creativity and self-expression
- Support of emotional resilience and well-being
- Cognitive engagement through pattern recognition
- Motor skill development through colouring within lines
These effects likely stem from colouring’s ability to relax the mind, reduce stress, and activate neurological focus regions. The research is still emerging, but consistently shows colouring can benefit mental health and cognition in multiple ways.
| Study | Participants | Study Design | Memory Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curry & Kasser, 2005 | 84 female undergraduate students | Structured vs. unstructured colouring before a memory task | Structured colouring improved memory vs. unstructured colouring |
| de Morais et al., 2013 | 50 medical students | Colouring or reading before memorizing content | Colouring group had better memory recall |
| Flett et al., 2017 | 28 older adults | 8 weeks of daily colouring exercises | Improved scores on memory and thinking tests |
| Appleby, 2018 | 62 adults | Colouring, painting, or no art activity before memory test | Colouring and painting improved memory vs. control |
This table summarizes key research studies that provide evidence for colouring enhancing memory performance across different age groups and study measures.
Tips for Using Colouring to Aid Memory
Based on what research has indicated so far, here are some tips to optimize the potential memory benefits of colouring:
- Choose symmetrical, geometric, or nature-themed designs rather than abstract scribbling.
- Focus fully on the colouring task by removing distractions.
- Colour mindfully and with purpose, alternating colours with care.
- Colour for at least 15-20 minutes to relax the mind.
- Colour before needing to memorize information or complete cognitive tasks.
- Make colouring a daily habit to lower stress levels overall.
To activate mindfulness and reap the most brain benefits, avoid rushing through colouring or letting your mind wander. The more focused and engaged you are, the better for improving memory performance.
Conclusion
The research on colouring and memory is still in early phases, but shows promise that structured colouring can support improved memory ability. Likely mechanisms are colouring’s ability to reduce stress, increase focus, and activate mindfulness and creativity centers in the brain. Though more research is warranted, colouring’s low cost and enjoyable nature make it a safe activity to try for potentially boosting memory function.
Colouring books are affordable tools with promising cognitive and emotional benefits. Science is still untangling the specifics on how colouring impacts the brain. But the initial data suggests colouring is worth exploring as a way of enhancing memory capacity through mindfulness, focus, and stress relief.
