So what do brain exercises actually do, and how do they affect your state of mind? “Brain exercises keep your brain flexible and changeable—this is neuroplasticity,” He says neuroscientist Tara Swart, MD, Ph.D.
“When we learn something new, we get the direct benefit of that new learning, but also global benefits in the brain on our executive functioning, such as emotional regulation, complex problem solving, creative thinking, etc.,” Swart adds.
Elane O’Brien Ph.D.psychologist and co-author of The Power of Play: Optimize Your Joy Potential, he cites what is known as the “theory of multiple intelligences” to further explain how mind games work.
When we use strategy to solve puzzles or play thinking games, we engage our linguistic-verbal intelligence and express thoughts and feelings in words. This helps develop our cognition and creativity. “Intellectual play and games that involve problem solving, thinking, and practicing new mental skills can teach us how things in the world work. There is an activation of concentration, strategy and active thinking during game time”, says O’Brien.
Dark add that it is important Play mind games throughout your life.1—not just when you’re in school or when you get to old age. “Brain cells can begin to shrink or die at twentytwoso the age to start challenging your brain is when you are not learning naturally [as many new things],” she says.
For a general rule of thumb on when to prioritize different types of brain exercises, neurologists Dean Sherzai, MD, and Ayesha Sherzai, MD, directors of the Alzheimer’s Prevention Program in Loma Linda University, previously said mindbodygreen that it may be useful to focus on attention in your 20s, memory at 30 and executive function in your 40s and beyond.
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