Who would ever have guessed that?
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/201 ... inks-brain
Playing chess could shrink your brain
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Clive Blackburn
Playing chess could shrink your brain
Shrinking certain areas of your brain is not necessarily a bad thing.... apparently, the brains of elite chess players have observable differences in structure from the brains of "ordinary" players.
Who would ever have guessed that?
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/201 ... inks-brain
Who would ever have guessed that?
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/201 ... inks-brain
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Jonathan Bryant
- Posts: 3452
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2008 3:54 pm
Re: Playing chess could shrink your brain
Clive Blackburn wrote:Shrinking certain areas of your brain is not necessarily a bad thing.... apparently, the brains of elite chess players have observable differences in structure from the brains of "ordinary" players.
Who would ever have guessed that?
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/201 ... inks-brain
Some links to the original studies cited - or failing that, proper references - would be welcome.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
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Clive Blackburn
Re: Playing chess could shrink your brain
There is a link to the study, at the start of the 3rd paragraph.Jonathan Bryant wrote: Some links to the original studies cited - or failing that, proper references - would be welcome.
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Jonathan Bryant
- Posts: 3452
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2008 3:54 pm
Re: Playing chess could shrink your brain
Clive Blackburn wrote:There is a link to the study, at the start of the 3rd paragraph.Jonathan Bryant wrote: Some links to the original studies cited - or failing that, proper references - would be welcome.
Ah thanks. And the second study is linked to now as well I see.
Neither was when I first say this early this morning.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
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David Robertson
Re: Playing chess could shrink your brain
Chess does shrink the brain. We have evidence that, in certain cases, it shrinks the brain close to zero. We know this from posts to this forum, and elsewhere.
We know also that playing chess affects some people's ability to use the little bit of the brain they have left. But with that little bit of brain, it is still possible to use it effectively - by avoiding uncritical Googling
Try locating the source and provenance of the claim. HERE IT IS
There you will read, it says:
"To the best of our knowledge we showed for the first time that there are specific differences in grey and white matter morphology between chess players and control subjects in brain regions associated with cognitive functions important for playing chess. Whether these anatomical alterations are the cause or consequence of the intensive and long-term chess training and practice remains to be shown in future studies."
In other words, nothing about shrinking brains. So, if your 'shrunken brain' hasn't by now been overloaded, it says F*c* All. The brain is plastic; it changes (thank God) to stimuli. Chess playing, like violin playing or driving a taxi or giving birth, changes how the brain structures itself in response to the stimulus in question. As do repeated postings in here. Brain shrinkage? You tell me.
Excuse me, shrunken brains, but I have a better way to shrink my brain. Another glass of Chablis, please.
We know also that playing chess affects some people's ability to use the little bit of the brain they have left. But with that little bit of brain, it is still possible to use it effectively - by avoiding uncritical Googling
Try locating the source and provenance of the claim. HERE IT IS
There you will read, it says:
"To the best of our knowledge we showed for the first time that there are specific differences in grey and white matter morphology between chess players and control subjects in brain regions associated with cognitive functions important for playing chess. Whether these anatomical alterations are the cause or consequence of the intensive and long-term chess training and practice remains to be shown in future studies."
In other words, nothing about shrinking brains. So, if your 'shrunken brain' hasn't by now been overloaded, it says F*c* All. The brain is plastic; it changes (thank God) to stimuli. Chess playing, like violin playing or driving a taxi or giving birth, changes how the brain structures itself in response to the stimulus in question. As do repeated postings in here. Brain shrinkage? You tell me.
Excuse me, shrunken brains, but I have a better way to shrink my brain. Another glass of Chablis, please.