The Gift of Gab Can Boost Mental Health

Calling your sister on the phone, grabbing a cup of coffee with a friend, or chatting around the water cooler with colleagues can help give you a mental edge, claims a new study. In fact, gabbing can sharpen your brain as much as any crossword puzzle or intellectual game.

University of Michigan researchers recently found that just 10 minutes of socializing can improve your memory and test scores. First, they examined the social interactions of 3,610 people and discovered that those with the higher levels of social interaction also had better cognitive functioning.

Investigators also conducted an experiment on three groups of students to compare their intellectual performance. One group socialized for 10 minutes before a test, another was given intellectual exercises prior to testing, and the control group watched a 10-minute clip from an episode of Seinfeld. The study concluded that socializing before the test offered the same brain-boosting results as the intellectual exercises.

Source: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (February 2008)

Related Article: Green Tea Rejuvenates Damaged Brain Cells