What conclusion was drawn from the Andrade study?

The conclusion that doodling helps concentration on a primary task stems from the findings of the Andrade study, which investigated the effects of doodling on memory and attention. In this research, participants who engaged in doodling while listening to a monotonous tape showed improved recall of information compared to those who did not doodle. This suggests that doodling can actually enhance focus and attention by preventing the mind from wandering too far and maintaining a level of engagement with the task at hand.

The effectiveness of doodling may lie in its ability to occupy a small portion of cognitive resources, which in turn can help individuals concentrate better on the main task. In essence, while doodling may seem like a distraction on the surface, it provides a channel for excess mental energy or distraction, thus allowing for better overall concentration and processing of the primary information. This finding challenges the common perception that doodling is merely a diversion, highlighting its potential benefits in cognitive tasks.