Science

After Practicing and Enhancing Cognitive Skills, How Long do the Effects Last?

The ACTIVE Study as well as studies led by Dr. Michael Merzenich and others, indicate that the effects last for years. It seems reasonable that if we have focused on increasing memory or attention or linguistic skills, we will use those skills more effectively and efficiently in everyday learning and life and as a result, continue building and enhancing them. Of course, continued regular, challenging cognitive skill exercise can also continue to improve processing speed and accuracy, making many everyday tasks, such as hearing in a noisy room or remembering a shopping list or figuring out a driving route, much easier. Also, again like physical exercise, we can remember how to serve a tennis ball years after practicing the basics, but our speed and accuracy (and fun quotient) improve dramatically with regular, consistent practice. Many scientists now believe that our brains work exactly the same way.