I find it easier to concentrate on the talk if I take notes during the talk. Writing the notes also seems to embed the information into my brain in a stronger fashion than if I just listen to the talk. Since different, but regionally neighboring, parts of the brain are involved in auditory perception and in lexicographic perception and in the motor activity of moving the extremities for handwriting, perhaps the conjoint activity of all of these areas leads to reinforced learning.
I wonder if typing the notes live stimulates the regions of the brain in the same way as handwriting the notes does. Obviously, some things will be different, but what exactly? And is there a benefit to one over the other? My opinion is that either handwriting or typing notes during a talk leads to better recall and better comprehension.
