随身英语 Is doodling good for you? 心不在焉地随手乱画对

陈小将

你是否有过这样的经历：参加会议时，在笔记本上漫不经心地乱涂乱画，却能记住会议中别人说了什么？你认为随手乱画的人都心不在焉吗？本文探究为什么随手乱画可能对你有好处。
词汇：The mind 大脑
Do you sometimes find yourself drawing random patterns and designs during meetings and lectures? Some people believe it shows you aren’t listening or paying attention. However, there are studies which claim the opposite, and that doodling might actually be beneficial.
Doodling seems to be ubiquitous. In the past it was seen as a mindless activity and a product of the absentminded.  However, in 2016, an article on the Harvard University website discussed the idea that random drawings may assist memory retention and concentration.
The article highlights that 26 of 44 American presidents were known to doodle, with Ronald Reagan famous for drawing cowboys. A 2009 study conducted by psychologist Jackie Andrade asked 40 people to listen to a ‘dull and rambling’ voice message. Half of the group were asked to doodle and shade in a picture. Those who did were able to recall 29% more of the information contained in the message.
Some experts believe that embracing your creative and artistic sides during meetings may engage your mind. Jesse Prinz, a renowned professor of philosophy, actively encourages his students to doodle. He believes that doodling is the ‘attentional sweet spot’.
And it might not just be good for your concentration. An artist known as Mr Doodle has made a career out of his scribbles. He sells his art online and also goes to people’s homes to decorate their walls.
It seems that random drawing to aid concentration might be becoming more of a thing. People like Sunni Brown, an advocate for doodling, teach adults how to sketch and scribble in the workplace. So, the next time you see someone haphazardly drawing pictures during a meeting, it might be a sign that they are listening more than you think.