Font Matters: Deciphering the Impact of Font Types on Attention and Working Memory

Abstract

IntroductionVarious types of fonts such as serif, sans serif, and script are used during writing and reading, which can affect the reader's attention and working memory, though there is only a subtle difference at the end of the letter. The study aimed to see the effect of font type on working memory and attention. MethodsThe study included healthy male adults between 18 and 40 years of age. After taking all the necessary precautions, a letter cancellation test and 2-back task in serif, sans serif, and script font types were done to evaluate subjects' attention and working memory. ResultsA total of 30 subjects participated in the study. The letter cancellation task (LCT) was statistically significant (P<0.05) between the three groups, where the time taken to complete the task was the shortest for serif fonts, indicating heightened attention to serif fonts. However, the accuracy of the N-back test did not show statistically significant differences (P>0.05) among the three font groups, indicating no significant change in working memory. ConclusionThe type of font used can impact the reader's attention, with Times New Roman font demonstrating greater attention, particularly in the context of the letter cancellation task.