Introduction
Chess has been one of the most coveted pastimes for thousands of years for reasons that extend beyond the entertainment value many believe is the only benefit chess has to offer. There are a plethora of methods and establishments dedicated to the development and strengthening ones physical body and much emphasis is placed on the upkeep of ones physical shape with very little attention placed on the development of the mind. Much like the physical body the brain and the mind yearns for exercise and challenge in order to thrive. Playing chess provides an excellent method of exercising the mind and maintaining strong mental health. Chess and many other board games are excellent at both providing entertainment whilst also challenging the brain.
Chess can be played by anyone of any age however the age groups that benefit the most from playing chess is young children and mature adults. For younger children playing chess at an early age acts as a catalyst to enhance the development of areas in the brain associated with reasoning and concentration which is essential for wise decision making. Playing chess from an early age and continuing to play into adulthood is also a very effective method of preventing illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimer’s. For adults of any age playing chess can provide all the advantages the younger age groups benefit from by playing chess however the benefits of playing chess is longer lasting and more potent when played from childhood.
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Is Chess Good For Your Mental Health?
Playing chess is excellent for developing and maintaining good mental health and can have long lasting effects the more often you play. Chess has been the topic of many studies and the results of these studies has found chess to be one of the best pastimes for maintaining optimal mental health. Chess is known to be excellent for staving off dementia and Alzheimer’s whilst simultaneously improving cognitive functions such as memory, concentration and reasoning.
One of the main causes of mental fatigue is stress and games have been one of the best resources for dealing with stress since times immemorial. Chess in particular is excellent when it comes to dealing with stress for many reasons. Playing chess has been shown to play a key role in exercising key areas of the brain that inhibit stress as well as a host of other functions. One of the least spoken of and often times under rated benefits of playing chess is the healthy doses of dopamine that is released in the brain during and after a chess game. In addition to the chemical processes in the brain that is activated in the brain during a game of chess the main cognitive systems that benefit from playing chess is the prefrontal cortex and the mesial temporal lobes.
Chess is not only an invaluable method to exercise the mental it provides a means to divert ones attention away from the stresses of everyday life. Each chess game requires the players undivided attention in order to plan ahead and determine the next best possible move and also to anticipate and prepare for the opponents next move. The levels of focus that each chess game requires makes chess both an entertaining and constructive pastime capable of cultivating a healthy mental environment. The development of the prefrontal cortex and the mesial temporal lobes also helps to create a mind which is resilient which is a key component of strong mental health.
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What Mental Skills Does Chess Develop?
Playing chess exercises areas in the brain such as the prefrontal cortex and the mesial temporal lobes. Chess requires the use of both the left and right hemispheres of the brain which is essential for brain synchronization. A fully synchronised brain allows for the smooth transference of information across both sides of the brain which makes retaining and retrieving information much easier. Above all chess develops key skills such as pattern recognition, focus, concentration, reasoning, short term planning, long term planning and decision making.
Chess works wonders for developing ones mental skills and has been coveted by many cultures around the world for hundreds of years because of it. During a game of chess a plethora of mental processes are utilised and exercised which over time gains the chess player an array of mental skills that may have been previously under developed. Playing chess requires the use of the prefrontal cortex of the brain which encompasses areas such as the neocortex which is responsible for sensory perception, emotions and cognition. With the addition of the mental functions within the domain of the larger prefrontal cortex of the brain chess also has the ability to develop functions such as attention, the inhibition of impulsive behaviours, prospective memory and cognitive flexibility due to the neuroplastic nature of brain.
To add to the sizeable list of mental skills playing chess can develop, chess requires the use the left and right side of the brain. Using both hemispheres of the brain is an excellent method of improving ones wholistic thinking abilities. The use of both hemispheres of the brain allows the brain to become synchronised which strengthens the network of neurons in the brain allowing information to be transmitted throughout the brain much more efficiently. The result of a synchronised brain for the chess player is the ability to retain and retrieve information stored mentally with ease. Some of the greatest attributes of chess however is it’s ability to improve tasks such as pattern recognition, planning and decision making. When playing chess it’s essential to recognise patterns in order to properly defend against your opponents moves in addition to the use of proper planning and effective decision making. Over time the usage and training of these skills will result in an improvement in one’s mental abilities.
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Are Chess Players Brains More Developed Than The Average Person?
Playing chess exercises the prefrontal cortex and the mesial temporal lobes which helps to develop important functions in the brain. In addition to exercising these key centres in the brain chess also creates brain synchronicity by entraining the left and right side of the brain to work together. As a result chess players are able to develop many areas of the brain whilst at the same time achieving brain synchronicity.
Playing chess is a great way to develop the brain as it utilises many areas and functions of the brain. Studies have shown that although chess players may utilise much of their brain power during chess games there are differences in the functions in the brain that are utilised between amateur and grandmasters. Whilst both classes of chess players utilise many of the previously mentioned functions in the brain amateur chess players show greater activity in their mesial temporal lobes whilst grandmaster show greater brain activity in their prefrontal cortex during chess games. The differences in brain activity between the two groups indicates that grandmasters rely much more on their previous experiences to solve chess problems whilst amateur rely on the section of the brain associated with solving new problems and storing them as long term memories when playing chess.
This distinction is an indication of the process of development the brain under takes whilst learning not only how to play chess but almost any subject. Whilst in the beginning stages of learning a new subject the mesial temporal lobes are much more utilised than the prefrontal cortex however as more experience is gained in a subject the prefrontal cortex becomes much more relied upon. Studying and committing to research in any particular subject will yield similar results as the studies in chess have revealed. The distinction between the level of development of the mesial temporal lobes in grandmaster and amateur chess players is an understudied topic although it can be surmised that after a certain level of experience is reached in chess the prefrontal cortex becomes the driving force of much of the brains activity. Overall chess players that play regularly tend to have strong mesial temporal lobes and prefrontal cortex which are strong signs of a well developed brain.
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Can Playing Chess Increase Your Mental Age?
One of the by-products of playing chess regularly is a natural increase in mental age. Mental age is defined as the ability to perform a specified task to a required standard depending on your age. The intelligence quotient or IQ of an individual is a division of ones calculated mental age and so there is a positive correlation between mental age and IQ. Playing chess increases your mental age by training the brain to find more efficient methods to solve problems.
Playing chess is one of the best and most natural ways of increasing your mental age. Chess develops the functions and processes in the brain which is widely associated with maturity and wisdom such as sound reasoning and decision making. Chess is especially beneficial for children as it can help to enhance the speed and quality in which they formulate accurate conclusions from learned information in addition to improving their strategic thinking. Studies have shown that the mental exercises the brain undertakes whilst playing chess have transferrable benefits that can be applied in the real world in every day circumstances. For example the development of the prefrontal cortex in children and young adults as a result of playing chess can lead to them making better choices in their lives both in the short and long term.
Chess has an excellent ability to cultivate original and independent thinking in children and young adults which is one of the goals of Armenia and the reason why they have included chess as a subject to be studied in their schools. Many experienced chess players have high IQ’s which in most instances is an indirect result of years of playing chess and the states of brain synchronicity that they have been able to attain and maintain. The advantages of having a developed prefrontal cortex and mesial temporal lobes in addition to having a fully synchronised brain is the ease in which information learned can be drawn from and utilised in order to solve immediate problems. The positive correlation between mental age and IQ shines a light on the benefits playing chess can have in increasing one’s IQ by way of increasing ones mental age.
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Conclusion
In conclusion playing chess has many attributes that can positively impact ones brain. Playing chess regularly is an excellent way to not only maintain optimal mental health but also further develop and strengthen one’s mental health. Chess is a great pastime for all age groups however children and older adults can extract the most benefits from playing chess as it can help develop healthy cognitive functions in children and prevent mental health problems in older adults. There have been many scientific studies on the impacts playing chess can have on the brain and one’s ability to learn and the results are promising and warrants the incorporation of chess into ones daily life. A chess game a day can keep mental illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer’s away.
One of the most powerful attributes of chess is its ability to synchronise the left and the right side of the brain creating a unified brain and the perfect environment for wholistic thinking to take place. Chess is a great tool for sharpening the mind in preparation for the task of problem solving. The increase in mental age as a result of playing chess regularly and the increase in IQ as a natural result of an increase in mental age highlights the fact that chess both sharpens the mind and can improve problem solving skills and academic success. Overall chess exercises many areas of the brain and can be an extremely beneficial addition to one’s life for both it’s entertainment value and health benefits.
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