Speaking out loud to yourself is often frowned upon. However, Gary Lupyan, associate professor of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, told the BBC that talking to yourself “there is nothing irrational“. To illustrate the benefits of this habit, the specialist gave several examples. He explains in particular that pronouncing certain words — like “banana” — activates additional visual and contextual information in the brain, which facilitates object recognition:
“Even though we all know what a banana looks like, just saying the word out loud helps our brains process more information about the food, including its appearance. Sure, we’ll find it eventually, but talking about it speeds up the process.” he specifies.
Facilitate object recognition
“In addition, research shows that this practice can strengthen memory. In a famous experiment, participants looked at a screen showing different objects; those who named them out loud were able to find them more quickly”we can read on the Huffpost.
Many benefits for learning and well-being
According to specialists, this mechanism offers real advantages for children’s learning: inner dialogue helps them guide themselves step by step, thus strengthening their self-discipline and their learning abilities. Psychotherapist Anne Wilson also highlights the benefits of this practice, which she recommends to her patients. “We all need to talk to someone interesting, intelligent, who knows us well and supports us. That person is ourselves”she explains. Ultimately, inner dialogue can promote better self-knowledge and more effective regulation of emotions.