Direct mail outperformed digital advertising channels in driving consumer action, according to a neuromarketing study. Direct mail required 21% less mental effort to understand and led to higher brand recall than digital media like email and display ads. It also elicited stronger emotional responses, as measured by higher motivation scores. Specifically, direct mail was found to be easier to understand, more persuasive, and quicker to visually process than digital media. Overall, direct mail was better able to meet the threshold of a motivation-to-cognitive load ratio above 1, indicating it is more effective at driving behaviors like purchases. The study supports the hypothesis that direct mail's physical nature enhances its ability to stimulate the brain and guide consumer behavior.