It might come as a surprise to learn that the brain responds to training in much the same way as our muscles, even though most of us never think about it that way. Clear thinking, focus, creativity and good judgment are built through challenge, when the brain is asked to stretch beyond routine rather than run on autopilot. That slight mental discomfort is often the sign that the brain is actually being trained, a lot like that good workout burn in your muscles.

  • I know it was known well enough back in the days of the OG Nintendo DS because games like Brain Age, that were based on similar studies to assist in keeping your brain “exercised”, were kind of a fad at the time, and the gamification of learning has grown much since then.