I love my Kindle and iPad. However, I’ve noticed that when I really want to learn and remember something or need to make sure a work document is correct, I have to use a printed document. And going back and forth to verify or reread something is a lot harder with my Kindle than with a paper book.

Is this just me, since I’m a digital immigrant rather than a digital native? (That’s a politically correct way of saying I’m old.) A recent article in Scientific American says it’s not me but rather how the brain processes information.

The most interesting part of the article explained how the brain interprets written language. Research has shown that although letters and words are symbols representing sounds and ideas, the brain regards them as physical objects. Learning to read or write requires a tactile experience that requires both our eyes and our hands.

While that’s interesting, why do I seem to learn and retain information more effectively with a written document rather than a document on a screen? The article mentioned a number of reasons.

Apparently, students who read texts on computers perform worse on reading comprehension tests than students who read the material on paper, most likely because they had to scroll through the documents one section at a time. The ease with which a paper document allows you to scan the beginning, the end and everything in between, as well as make progress through the text, might make it easier to learn.

Another survey concluded that when reading onscreen, we take lots of shortcuts. We spend more time browsing for key words compared to people reading a paper copy. The more our attention is diverted to moving through a text, the less is available for understanding. Researchers also agree that screen-based reading can dull comprehension because it is more physically tiring than reading on paper.

So will this change my reading habits? Not really, but it does explain what I have experienced. I think paper and screen-based documents both have their place. I guess I’ll follow my instinct on when to use each form of reading, depending on what I need to accomplish.