Speaking aloud requires extra mental effort, study finds
A Japanese study links brain activity and pupil size, suggesting silent self-talk is less mentally stimulating than speaking out loud.
Key Takeaways
AIA scientific study has revealed a connection between brain activity and pupil size, suggesting that silent self-talk may involve lower levels of mental stimulation compared to speaking aloud.
The Japanese research measured changes in pupil size during experiments, finding that participants' pupils dilated when counting out loud but remained smaller during silent counting, and constricted during simple arithmetic tasks, according to Sputnik.
Researchers believe that speaking aloud requires additional effort, including moving the tongue and lips, regulating breathing, and hearing one's own voice, while internal dialogue may allow some tasks to be completed with less mental arousal.