CHESS IS GOOD FOR OUR BRAIN!

Chess is good for the brain. Indeed, many of our most important thinkers (from Einstein to Carl Sagan) were avid chess players, and there are indications that the game has positive effects on mental performance. But what about chess’s impact on health in general?

Chess increases memory skills in children, reduces stress levels in school-aged children and adults, raises self-esteem in low achievers, fosters cognitive growth among people over 65 years old with cognitive impairment due to their age or dementia, boosts creative thinking in math classes for kids—and much more.

It also makes us smarter when it comes to decision making during high-stress situations.
A new study published in the journal PLoS One found that playing chess can help people make better decisions under pressure. It did this by improving their abilities to concentrate on the most important aspects of a task and to disregard irrelevant details.

The study, which was conducted by Canadian researchers, assessed the effects of a month-long series of chess training sessions on a group of 50 female college students who were also trained recruits for a police academy. At the end of the training period, participants underwent a test that evaluated attention levels and response times. They were presented with stimuli from four different scenarios: driving, under high-stress conditions; walking, under high-stress conditions; walking, not under stress; and driving, not under stress.

When the tests were analyzed, the results showed that participants who had received chess training were better able to focus on critical stimuli while ignoring irrelevant information. This ability translates to less stress and/or trauma when making decisions in high-pressure situations.

Chess, thus, increases brainpower while also improving mental well-being—which is an attractive proposition for young people facing ever-increasing stress levels in their lives. It is also the best game to help kids develop other vital skills like rational thinking, decision-making ability and self-confidence; it even improves vocabulary, memory skills and other cognitive abilities. 

"Chess, thus, increases brainpower while also improving mental well-being—which is an attractive proposition for young people facing ever-increasing stress levels in their live."