Chats with Friends Boost Brainpower

In that a number of studies have suggested various  interventions top help improve mental processes including memory and thinking skills , a team from the University of Michigan (Michigan ,USA), and colleagues studied whether and how short-term social interactions might create cognitive benefits. Oscar Ybarra and colleagues studied 192 undergraduate college students, engaging each in a short, 10-minute conversation in which they got to know another person.  The team found that this positive conversation helped to boost the subjects’ performance on a variety of cognitive tasks.  Further, they observed that conversations with a competitive tone failed to improve cognitive performance. The researchers conclude that: “The results highlight how social functioning can enhance core mental capacities.”