The tendency to talk to oneself out loud has traditionally been stigmatized in our society, wrongly linking it to mental disorders. However, the latest research in the field of psychology reveals that this practice, far from being worrying, can significantly enhance our cognitive abilitiesespecially in areas such as memory and concentration, as long as it does not appear together with other alarming symptoms.

According to Professor Gary Lupyan, an associate of psychology at the University of Wisconsin, to the BBC, verbalizing thoughts is not an irrational act, but a process that can enhance each person’s mental abilities. A recent study exposed participants to a screen with various objects, proving that those who named the items out loud could locate them more quickly. The expert explains that this occurs because “By mentioning what is being seen, the brain activates visual information to identify the object faster.”

Childhood as a model of positive self-dialogue

The most representative case of the benefits of talking to oneself is found in children. During the childhood stage, the Verbalized internal dialogue is a natural part of learning and helps children to carry out their daily tasks, improving their results in motor activities. This phenomenon, far from indicating problems, constitutes an essential cognitive development tool.

Psychotherapist Anne Wilson supports this positive view by stating that “We all need to talk to someone interesting, who knows us perfectly and is on our side.. Who better than ourselves?” Some professionals even recommend this practice in their therapeutic consultations due to its multiple advantages.

Advantages of verbalized self-dialogue

Among the benefits of speaking alone, the following stand out: reinforcement of memory, structuring of thinking and facilitation in problem solving. Contemporary psychology considers that self-talk acts as a form of internal socialization that contributes positively to emotional well-being, providing cognitive motivation and mental clarity.

This new perspective on a traditionally stigmatized behavior is supported by scientific studies such as the one published by Gary Lupyan and Daniel Swingley entitled ‘Self-directed speech affects visual search performance’ (Self-directed speech affects visual search performance) in The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology.