"Unlocking the Mental Magic: The Fascinating Science of How Chess Boosts Brain Power"

The human brain is the most complex machine on Earth. Yes, this will still be the case even after AI.

But what do we know about the supercomputer we all carry inside our heads, and what can we do to improve its capabilities? One way scientists can find out is by measuring how different activities affect the way the brain works.

From how our brains process information to how we combine analytical and creative thinking to achieve goals.

Researchers have found the game of chess to be a goldmine for such research because of the variety of ways it is used, when we play this great game. In fact, the body of research using chess for this purpose is so extensive that this article will focus only on traditional measures of intelligence.

In this article, I will highlight three studies that have shown that chess improves brain function with just 15 hours of chess practice and how chess can change the physical structure of the brain for the better.

“AI will be the best or worst thing ever for humanity.” - Elon Musk

.

The first study that was conducted and subsequently published in the esteemed journal Psychological Science sought to delve into the intricate realm of cognitive abilities and how they can potentially be enhanced through the strategic and intellectually stimulating game of chess. The primary objective of this study was to examine whether engaging in the game of chess could indeed lead to improvements in cognitive functions that are closely associated with planning and decision-making.

In order to meticulously dissect this question, the study was meticulously divided into two distinct groups - one comprising of seasoned chess players, while the other group consisted of individuals who were relatively unfamiliar with the complexities of chess. Both groups were presented with a perplexing problem that required a considerable amount of mental acuity and strategic thinking to unravel.

The problem itself was truly a conundrum - it revolved around a scenario involving five houses that were arranged in a linear fashion, each adorned with a unique color scheme. Within each individual abode resided a person belonging to a distinct nationality, who indulged in a specific beverage, smoked a particular brand of cigarettes, and even cared for a unique pet, one of which was a snail. The overarching question that loomed over the participants like a tantalizing enigma was this: who was the fortunate individual who owned the enigmatic snail?

To essentially crack the code and unlock the mystery that was bound within this complex problem, participants were necessitated to employ a myriad of cogitative processes - from the art of astute elimination to the practice of methodical deduction and, of course, the keen application of logical reasoning. Every potential combination of colors, nationalities, beverages, cigarettes, pets, and even the placement of the houses themselves had to be meticulously considered and meticulously evaluated in order to derive at the ultimate solution.

As the participants delved deeper into the intricate layers of the problem, they were required to make a series of perceptive deductions based on the sparse clues that were scattered throughout the scenario; clues such as "the individual who indulges in Pall Mall cigarettes is the proud owner of a bird" or "the person who imbibes in milk resides in the middle house" were just a couple of the pieces to this convoluted puzzle.

Through a sequence of logical deductions and astute reasoning, the participants were ultimately able to pierce through the veil of complexity and successfully identify the elusive individual who was the proud owner of the snail.

Cognitive Ability

"Cognitive ability refers to the mental capability of an individual to process and understand information, learn new things, solve problems, and make decisions. It encompasses various skills such as reasoning, memory, attention, perception, and language comprehension

Cognitive ability is essential for individuals to effectively function in everyday life and is often measured through assessments of intelligence, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities. It is influenced by a combination of genetic factors, environmental influences, and personal experiences."

Albert Einstein's Nationality Puzzle

"Albert Einstein's Nationality Puzzle is a puzzle that involves figuring out who is of which nationality based on a series of clues.

The following information applies: a) The Brit lives in the red house. b) The Swede keeps dogs as pets. c) The Dane likes to drink tea. d) The green house is to the left of the white house. e) The owner of the green house drinks coffee. f) The person who smokes Pall Mall keeps birds. g) The man in the middle house drinks milk. h) The Norwegian lives in the first house. i) The Marlboro smoker lives next door to the one who has cats. j) The man with horses lives next to the one who smokes Dunhill. k) The Winfield smoker likes to drink beer. l) The Swede has a neighboring house that is blue.

The puzzle is to find out who is what nationality, what drink they drink, what brand of cigarettes they smoke and what pet they have. It requires logical thinking and eliminating possibilities to find the right solution."

.

The subsequent study in question actually consists of two separate studies: an initial study and a follow-up study, both of which were published in the Creativity Research Journal in the years 2010 and 2011, respectively. In the first study, a total of 112 participants were recruited, with a mix of chess players and non-chess players. The participants were presented with a task that required them to think creatively in order to come up with unique solutions to a given problem. Specifically, they were asked to imagine being stranded on a deserted island and were tasked with generating five innovative uses for a common item, such as a paperclip or a brick.

During this task, participants had a limited amount of time to generate as many creative solutions as possible, and their responses were evaluated based on their originality, flexibility, and elaboration. Originality refers to how novel the response is, flexibility refers to the diversity of response categories, and elaboration refers to the level of detail and complexity in the responses.

The findings from the study showed that chess players significantly outperformed non-chess players in terms of generating creative solutions. The chess players exhibited higher levels of originality, flexibility, and elaboration in their responses, indicating that playing chess may contribute to enhancing creative problem-solving abilities.

The researchers suggested that engaging in chess playing may boost creativity by encouraging individuals to think in unconventional ways, explore multiple possibilities, and develop innovative solutions. Chess necessitates the creation and utilization of mental representations, potentially enhancing cognitive flexibility and the capacity to generate novel ideas.

Similar to the initial study, the researchers took several precautionary steps to account for cognitive ability and general intellect in their analysis. They recruited both chess players and non-chess players and matched them based on age, gender, and education level, thereby minimizing potential demographic biases. Furthermore, they utilized a creativity task unrelated to chess to evaluate participants' general creative problem-solving abilities and conducted a series of cognitive tests to measure cognitive skills such as IQ, working memory, and executive function.

Moreover, a statistical regression analysis was conducted to control for the influence of cognitive ability and overall intellect on the relationship between chess playing and creative problem-solving abilities. The results of this analysis indicated that chess playing was a significant predictor of creative problem-solving abilities, even after accounting for individual variations in cognitive ability and general intellect.

The subsequent follow-up study aimed to investigate whether the gains in creative thinking abilities observed in the initial study were contingent upon years of chess training or if even a brief exposure to chess could yield similar results. In this study, 44 high school students with varying levels of prior chess experience were divided into a chess group and a control group. The chess group underwent a 15-hour chess training program, while the control group received no training.

Before and after the training program, both groups underwent a test assessing their creative problem-solving abilities. The results of the study showed that the chess group demonstrated a notable improvement in their creative problem-solving abilities compared to the control group. Specifically, the chess group displayed a higher increase in originality scores, indicating an enhancement in their ability to produce original and innovative ideas.

The study meticulously controlled for innate intellectual ability between the groups by randomly assigning participants and assessing their baseline creative problem-solving abilities before and after the training program. By focusing specifically on the impact of chess training on creative problem-solving ability, rather than on overall intellectual ability, the researchers were able to ascertain that even a brief period of chess training can positively influence creative problem-solving abilities.

Overall, the findings of both studies underscore the potential of chess playing as a valuable tool for fostering creativity and innovation. The results suggest that engaging in chess may not only enhance cognitive skills but also promote the development of creative problem-solving abilities, even after controlling for cognitive ability and general intellect.

High- and Low-creative network in brain

"Creativity in the brain arises from a complex composition of different processes and regions in the brain. Creativity refers to the ability to develop new ideas, solve problems and find original solutions. An important area that plays a role in creativity in the brain is the prefrontal cortex.

This region is responsible for cognitive flexibility and the ability to make connections between different ideas. The prefrontal cortex allows us to think outside of our usual thought patterns and take on new perspectives. The reward system in the brain, which is activated by dopamine, among other things, also plays a role in creativity.

When we develop creative ideas or solve problems in unconventional ways, rewarding signals are released in the brain that cause us to stay motivated and continue to think creatively. In addition, the connection between different areas of the brain is crucial for creativity. The better the communication between different areas of the brain, the more opportunities there are for original ideas and solutions.

Overall, creativity in the brain is a complex process based on various neurological mechanisms and influenced by individual factors such as personality, experience and environment. It is important to encourage and train creativity to support the brain's neural plasticity and generate new ideas."

The prefrontal cortex

"The prefrontal cortex is responsible for the higher cognitive functions of humans, including planning, decision making, impulse control, and the regulation of emotions. It plays an important role in self-control, working memory function, and social interaction. The prefrontal cortex is also connected to personality development and self-reflection."

.

The third study, which was published in the journal PLOS ONE, involved researchers utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine the brain activity of both chess players and non-chess players.

The main goal of the study was to analyze the impact of chess expertise on the functional organization and connectivity of the brain. By comparing the brain activity of both groups, the researchers aimed to gain a deeper understanding of how playing chess can influence the way the brain functions and communicates.

The study found that compared to non-chess players, chess players exhibited increased activity in several brain regions, including the dorsal and ventral premotor cortex, the posterior superior parietal lobule, and the cuneus. These regions are involved in decision-making, attention, visuospatial processing, and working memory.

An interesting discovery of the study was that expert chess players had greater connectivity between different brain regions than beginners. This means that different parts of the brain in expert chess players worked more efficiently together, which could explain why they can handle complex tasks like chess more effectively than beginners. The increased connectivity was particularly noticeable in brain regions involved in visual perception and attention.

Furthermore, the study found that the degree of connectivity in certain brain regions positively correlated with the chess players' skill level, as measured by their rating on the Elo scale.

Of course, one could argue that it is obvious that a chess expert has superior brain activity. It takes a truly intelligent person to be a chess expert. It's like saying NFL players have superior muscle strength compared to the average person.

To answer the question of whether chess expertise is based on innate cognitive abilities or acquired through practice, the authors of the study used several strategies. Firstly, they recruited participants matched on variables such as age, gender, and education level to control for individual differences that could distort the results. Secondly, they used a cross-sectional design that allowed them to compare the brain activity of expert and beginner chess players at a specific point in time. Thirdly, they assessed the relationship between chess expertise and brain activity using statistical methods that accounted for individual differences in cognitive abilities such as IQ.

One of the key findings of the study was that the degree of brain activity in regions involved in decision-making, attention, and visuospatial processing positively correlated with chess expertise, even after controlling for individual differences in cognitive abilities. This suggests that the observed changes in brain activity in expert chess players are specifically related to their experience in playing chess, and not simply the result of innate cognitive abilities.

Additionally, the study found that differences in brain activity between expert and beginner players were task-specific, supporting the idea that chess expertise is the result of specific learning and practice.

The study has important implications for understanding how the brain works and how it can be trained to perform complex tasks. It suggests that activities like playing chess can lead to changes in brain function that enhance cognitive function, which could have practical applications in areas such as education, training, and rehabilitation.

.

“Emotions are alien to me. I’m a scientist.” – Spock

A study published in the journal Emotion in 2016 examined the effects of playing chess on emotional regulation and levels of anxiety. The study recruited 80 undergraduate students, half of whom had experience playing chess and the other half had no experience with the game.

Participants were asked to complete a series of tasks designed to induce negative emotions and anxiety, such as viewing distressing images and performing a mathematics task under time pressure. They were then asked to play chess or engage in another relaxing activity for 20 minutes before completing another series of tasks to measure their emotional and cognitive responses.

The results showed that participants who played chess experienced a significant reduction in levels of anxiety compared to those who engaged in the relaxing activity. Additionally, the chess group showed improved emotion regulation ability, as measured by their heart rate variability and skin conductance responses. The researchers suggested that playing chess could help individuals regulate their emotions more effectively by promoting cognitive and emotional control, attention focus, and decision-making skills.

Overall, this study provides evidence of the potential benefits of playing chess for emotional regulation and anxiety reduction. It suggests that chess could offer a cost-effective and accessible way to improve emotional well-being and cognitive functioning, with important implications for mental health and stress management.

To ensure that individual emotional characteristics did not influence the results, the researchers controlled for participants' pre-existing levels of anxiety by measuring their trait anxiety values on a self-report measure before the experiment and comparing them. The two groups were also matched on demographic variables such as age and gender to ensure that any differences in emotional regulation were not due to differences in these factors.

Additionally, the study used a within-participants design, meaning that each participant acted as their own control. This approach helped to minimize the effects of individual differences in emotional characteristics by comparing each participant's emotional responses before and after playing chess or engaging in the relaxing activity. By using a within-participants design, the study was able to control for individual differences that may have influenced the results, such as differences in baseline emotional characteristics or coping styles.

.

A second study, published in the Journal of Cognitive Enhancement in 2019, examined the relationship between playing chess and emotional intelligence (EI) as well as the influence of chess on emotion regulation skills.

The study included a sample of 210 participants, with 105 chess players and 105 non-chess players. The chess players had at least 2 years of experience playing chess and regularly participated in tournaments, while the non-chess players had no experience in playing chess.

All participants completed a series of questionnaires and tasks to assess their emotional intelligence, emotion regulation skills, and cognitive abilities. This included the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), which measures four dimensions of emotional intelligence, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), which evaluates a person's ability to regulate their emotions.

The results showed that chess players had significantly higher scores for emotional intelligence compared to non-chess players. Specifically, chess players scored higher on dimensions such as perceiving emotions, using emotions, and understanding emotions.

Furthermore, chess players had significantly better emotion regulation skills compared to non-chess players, as measured by the DERS. Specifically, chess players had lower levels of emotional dysregulation and higher levels of emotional clarity, which refers to the ability to identify and understand one's own emotions.

The authors of the study suggest that playing chess can improve emotional intelligence and emotion regulation skills by providing players with opportunities to practice self-reflection, cognitive control, and strategic decision-making. Chess can also help players become more resilient to setbacks and improve their coping strategies in difficult situations.

To ensure that the control group compared to the chess group represented a fair representation, the researchers recruited non-chess players who had no experience in playing chess. The non-chess players were selected based on their age, gender, education level, and social status to ensure they were comparable to the chess players in these demographic variables. Additionally, the non-chess players were compared to the chess players in terms of their cognitive abilities through the Raven's Progressive Matrices Test.

By controlling for these variables, the researchers were able to minimize the influence of confounding factors on the relationship between playing chess and emotional intelligence/emotion regulation skills. This allowed them to isolate the specific effects of chess on these cognitive and emotional processes.

Overall, this study provides further evidence that playing chess can have positive effects on emotion regulation skills and emotional intelligence, and highlights the potential benefits of using chess as a tool to improve emotional well-being.

Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT)

"The Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) is an assessment tool designed to measure emotional intelligence in individuals. Developed by psychologists John D. Mayer, Peter Salovey, and David R. Caruso, the MSCEIT consists of a series of tasks and questions that are designed to evaluate an individual's ability to recognize, understand, and manage their own emotions, as well as their ability to perceive and understand the emotions of others.

The test measures four main branches of emotional intelligence: perceiving emotions, using emotions to facilitate thinking, understanding emotions, and managing emotions. By measuring an individual's emotional intelligence in each of these areas, the MSCEIT provides a comprehensive assessment of their overall emotional intelligence.

The MSCEIT is often used in a variety of settings, including workplaces, schools, and therapy sessions, to help individuals better understand their emotional strengths and weaknesses, and to develop strategies for improving their emotional intelligence. It is considered a reliable and valid tool for assessing emotional intelligence and can provide valuable insights into an individual's emotional functioning."

Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS)

"The Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a self-report questionnaire designed to measure an individual's ability to regulate their emotions effectively. It assesses various aspects of emotion regulation, such as awareness and understanding of emotions, ability to control impulsive behavior when experiencing strong emotions, and ability to adapt and modify emotions in different situations. The DERS is commonly used in research and clinical settings to assess emotional regulation difficulties and to guide intervention strategies."

Raven's Progressive Matrices Test.

"The Raven's Progressive Matrices Test is a non-verbal intelligence test that measures abstract reasoning ability. It consists of a series of complex visual patterns, with one piece missing, and the test taker must choose the correct missing piece from several options. The test is considered a reliable measure of general intelligence and is commonly used in educational and psychological assessments."

.

In the concluding study we will be examining here, which was published in the Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science in 2014, the impact of playing chess on emotion regulation in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was investigated.

The study included a sample of 25 children aged 8 to 12 years with ADHD. The children were randomly assigned to either a chess group or a control group. The chess group received a 12-week chess intervention, consisting of two 90-minute sessions per week. The control group did not receive any intervention during this period.

Before and after the 12-week period, all participants completed a series of questionnaires and tasks to evaluate their emotion regulation skills. These included the Emotion Regulation Checklist, which assesses an individual's ability to regulate their emotions, and a Stroop task, which measures cognitive control and selective attention.

The results showed that the children in the chess group exhibited significant improvements in their emotion regulation abilities compared to the control group. Specifically, the chess group showed significant improvements in their ability to understand and control their emotions, as well as improvements in their cognitive control and selective attention.

The authors of the study suggest that the strategic and competitive nature of chess can offer children with ADHD opportunities to learn and practice emotion regulation skills. Chess requires players to plan ahead, think critically, and make strategic decisions, which can help children with ADHD improve their attention control and cognitive flexibility, thereby strengthening their ability to regulate emotions.

Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence that playing chess can have positive effects on emotion regulation in children with ADHD and highlights the potential benefits of using chess as a therapeutic tool for individuals with difficulties in emotion regulation.

ADHD

"ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty paying attention, excessive activity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD may have trouble staying focused, organizing tasks, managing time, and controlling impulses. ADHD can have a significant impact on daily functioning and can affect academic, social, and occupational success. Treatment usually involves a combination of medication, therapy, and coping strategies to help manage symptoms."

.

Well, isn't it fascinating to learn about all the ways in which playing chess can benefit our brain functions? It's truly amazing how this strategic game can help improve not only our logical thinking and problem-solving skills but also our emotional intelligence.

When we talk about the "left side" brain functionalities that are enhanced through playing chess, we are referring to abilities such as logic, problem-solving, and strategic thinking. By engaging in this mentally stimulating activity, we are constantly challenging ourselves to come up with creative solutions, think critically about different possibilities, and plan ahead to anticipate our opponent's moves.

But what's equally impressive is the impact that playing chess can have on our "right side" brain functions. This includes skills related to emotional reasoning, such as using emotions to prioritize and make decisions, recognizing the causes and consequences of emotions, and regulating our emotions effectively. These abilities are essential for our overall well-being, as they help us manage stress and anxiety, control impulsive behavior, and adapt to changing emotional circumstances in a more balanced and composed manner.

So, by incorporating chess into our daily routine, we are not only exercising our mental faculties but also nurturing our emotional intelligence. It's a holistic approach to improving our cognitive abilities and emotional well-being, and the evidence supporting these benefits is truly remarkable. Let's continue to challenge ourselves with this ancient game and reap the rewards of a sharper mind and a more balanced emotional state.