BU Researchers Study Brain Training Games and Cognitive Health

If you're someone who's concerned about staying mentally sharp through your whole life, the idea of keeping your brain healthy might have crossed your mind a time or two but have you ever wondered about the real impact of brain games on your mind and if they’re as helpful as we’ve all been told for so many years they are?

Binghamton University researchers Ian McDonough and Michael Dulas dived headfirst dive into this topic. Their work, shared in collaboration with The Conversation is opening eyes to how brain-health games can actually benefit cognitive function and overall mental sharpness across different stages of life.

Through their research, McDonough and Dulas are unraveling the fascinating secrets of the brain when it's immersed in new learning activities. They emphasize the incredible brain-boosting power of challenging oneself through engaging tasks, showcasing how such endeavors can lead to significant improvements in memory, processing speed, and reasoning abilities.

From the Synapse Project supervised by McDonough, the researchers showed that trying new and challenging activities can really boost how well our brains work. People who tried activities like digital photography and quilting saw big improvements in how their brains worked, proving that keeping your mind busy and learning new things can make a big difference

One valuable lesson from this research is the importance of embracing challenges and stepping out of your comfort zone to fuel cognitive function. McDonough and Dulas's work reinforces the idea that ongoing learning and mental engagement play a vital role in maintaining brain health and cognitive vitality.

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In a world full of brain games where it's hard to know if they really work, the research from Binghamton University gives us hope and helpful insights. McDonough and Dulas encourage us to try new activities that challenge our brains and make them work better. Their work motivates us to keep our brains healthy and strong by staying curious and engaged in learning new things.