How does chess affect the brain?

After Netflix’s “Queen’s Gambit”, many people dusted off their old chess pieces and sat down to play. And very well! Playing chess on a regular basis is great for brain function. Find out about the top 10 health benefits of playing chess.

1. Chess has a very good effect on the functioning of our brain. Research shows that chess should be played by younger children – thanks to this, they develop their creativity and learn better
2. Playing chess on a regular basis can also be part of dementia prevention, stroke therapy or therapy for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
3. You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page

Chess is a sport for the brain

Chess is to the brain what strength exercise is to muscles. They develop our cognitive abilities, help in concentration, increase creativity. The popularity of chess was brought in the 50s and 60s by the American chess grandmaster Bobby Fisher. In 2020, chess gained a new life thanks to the Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” about the talented young chess player Elizabeth Harmon. It is very good that it happened.

Playing chess is a real challenge for our brain. Brain training is especially useful in times of protracted lockdowns and epidemic constraints. Scientists have examined how the game of chess affects the brain, and they have only good news for us.

Playing chess improves memory

People who play chess regularly have better memory abilities – after all, they have to remember the combinations of moves and their potential effects. In one experiment, researchers compared the memory ability of experienced chess players to those of people without chess experience. It turned out that chess players remembered word lists much better than they had heard before, compared to people without chess experience.

Chess players also have a better average ability to remember and recognize visual patterns quickly. According to the researchers, it has to do with remembering complex chess positions – this ability translates into other aspects of life.

Do you want to improve memory and thus support the work of the brain? You can try the Siberian ginseng dietary supplement available on Medonet Market at an attractive price.

See also: A relaxed brain remembers better

A game of chess in the prevention of dementia

The brain, like our entire body, ages with age. In order to keep him healthy, we should stimulate him to exercise regularly. According to research, people over the age of 75 who regularly play chess and other logic games are less likely to develop dementia than their peers who “do not train” the brain in this way.

See also: Movement in youth helps prevent dementia

The game of chess affects learning abilities

In a study of 4000 Venezuelan students, researchers showed that playing chess can significantly increase the IQ of both boys and girls. These results were observed after four months of the game.

Another study, conducted by Dr. Stuart Margulies in 1991, suggests that playing chess regularly translates into better learning outcomes for children. The study included children who came from an environment where average reading scores are below the national average. Students who participated in the chess program improved their reading scores.

Check also: Music lessons in childhood make the brain more efficient in old age

Playing chess helps you recover from a stroke

Chess influences the development of motor skills in people with disabilities, after a stroke or other physically debilitating accidents. This form of rehabilitation based on the movement of chess pieces (forward, backward, diagonally and in various other directions) can help develop the patient’s motor skills. The mental effort required to play chess can improve cognitive and communication skills.

Chess teaches you to solve problems

When playing chess, we must not only think about our strategy, but also anticipate the opponent’s moves and adapt our game to what is happening on the chessboard. According to a 1992 study in New Brunswick of 450 fifth grade students, people who played chess had significantly higher cognitive test scores than people who had nothing to do with chess.

Playing chess stimulates creativity

Another study, also conducted among students, showed that playing chess stimulates creativity. Once a week, for 32 weeks, the students used one form of leisure: they played chess or used computers or spent their time differently. It turned out that children who were in the chess group achieved better results in the study of creativity than their peers in other groups.

Playing chess improves your planning skills

The game of chess, in addition to problem-solving skills, also exercises the ability to plan. Scientists conducted a cognitive function test among the respondents. A group of people who played chess regularly showed better planning skills than a group that did not. Players also spent more time making decisions during the test.

See also: How to arouse your inner optimist and stop worrying?

A chess game for children with psychomotor hyperactivity

In a 2016 study, researchers tested 100 school-aged children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, including regular chess in their daily activities. It turned out that the students who participated in this study experienced 41 percent of decrease in both inattention and excessive activity.

Including chess in the daily activities of children with ADHD can have a therapeutic effect.

See also: Experts: Untreated ADHD increases the risk of depression in a child

Chess stimulates both hemispheres of the brain

Chess also influences the exercise of the brain’s hemispheres. A study in Germany showed that both the left and right hemispheres are activated when chess players are asked to identify chess positions and geometric shapes. They have a similar reaction time when it comes to identifying simple shapes, but they answer questions about chess positions much faster, involving both hemispheres in the answer.

Chess stimulates connections in the brain

Chess and other logic games challenge the brain, which causes them to stimulate the growth of dendrites, that is, cells specialized in receiving and transmitting stimuli. They create connections between other neurons and conduct impulses. The more dendrites, the better the communication between the brain’s neurons.

Do you want to improve the work of your brain? Chess is not the only thing that helps. It is also worth reaching for the Omega-3 dietary supplement with a triple potency, which not only has a positive effect on the work of the brain, but also the circulatory system. It is available on Medonet Market at an attractive price.

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