Ever thought your car could double as a brain trainer? Turns out, driving a manual transmission car might just be the mental workout you didn’t know you needed. According to a study by Professor Ryuta Kawashima, the guy behind Nintendo’s Brain Age games, manual cars could help keep your brain sharp and even fend off dementia.
The research team at Tohoku University discovered that while driving a stick shift, your brain’s prefrontal cortex—responsible for memory and decision-making—lights up like a Christmas tree. This part of the brain doesn’t get the same workout when you’re cruising in an automatic. So, every time you’re juggling gears and clutch pedals, you’re giving your noggin a mini gym session. For those not driving stick, gaming could be a good alternative; studies show video games might help boost cognitive functions as well.
With manual cars becoming rare, especially in places like the U.S. and Japan, it might be time to rethink your ride or pick up a game controller. If you’re a gamer, you might be interested in how Steam Machines or Warhammer 40K could also keep your brain engaged. So, whether you’re hitting the road or the gaming console, your brain will thank you.
Keep an eye on the latest in tech and gaming to find other brain-boosting activities, and maybe even consider a manual driving lesson!
Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels
