The effect of cubing on the mind/intelligence

[(X)]

now im at an average of about 58 seconds

24 seconds with a basic LBL

That's weird.

Back in the day I had an average of about 1:10. 1 day after getting back into cubing I was already faster than that.

Can anyone summarize what is explained in the MRI stage of the "Play Blindfolded on Coaster on TV" video?

yes I would like to know that aswell...

 

[Stefan]

Hint for Erik (or other fast solvers) to go into an MRI with a scrambled cube

But please please please a Meffert assembly one!

 

[brunson]

I've mentioned in the forum before that studies have shown people who play chess suffer less from Alzheimers. I'm hoping the correlation is causal and cubing will have the same benefit. Then again, I play chess, too.

 

[tim]

My juggling skills didn't improve, my maths skills didn't improve, my programming skills didn't improve, i don't get more points on those "IQ tests". Even my reaction times didn't improve. For me cubing didn't have any positive side effects on my brain.

Oh, wait: I'm faster at memorizing images now. But that's because i've practiced memorizing images. So not a real Rubik's Cube thing.

 

[Chuberchuckee]

Haha, I love how you all assume that we'll get something useful from an MRI.

No, no. What you'll need is a PET (positron emission tomography) scan. The subject consumes a radioactive isotope which bonds to glucose molecules, or sugar molecules basically. As the different parts of the brain are put to work, the body sends more glucose molecules to that area. As the radioactive molecules attached to the glucose molecules decay, the scanner picks them up. What we get is an image of the energy consumption for different parts of the brain.

If I didn't explain that very clearly, just do a Google search: http://www.google.com/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=pet+scan&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

 

[cookingfat]

and what part of the brain sub-10 solvers use, as well as sub-1 bld, because that would use a different part of the brain.

I once watched a documentary video of a blindfold cuber get hooked up to a brain monitoring machine and they took readings while he was memorising and also while he solved it under a black cloth. (he couldn't use a blindfold because he had lots of wires stuck to his head) Can anyone find this and post the link, I'm sure the person was a young asian looking male

 

[Stefan]

For me cubing didn't have any positive side effects on my brain.

Well, maybe it didn't improve the potential that was already there, but recently you sounded like it helped you *become aware* of it:

After several sleepless nights i finally understood most of the method and solved my first cube blindfolded. The feeling was so intense that i even cried .
I think i learnt a lot from that week (not only cubing-wise) and i was even sure, that i can reach everything in life if i want to .

 

[Stefan]

I once watched a documentary video of a blindfold cuber get hooked up to a brain monitoring machine and they took readings while he was memorising and also while he solved it under a black cloth. (he couldn't use a blindfold because he had lots of wires stuck to his head) Can anyone find this and post the link, I'm sure the person was a young asian looking male

Was it the video a bit higher on this very page?

 

[cookingfat]

I once watched a documentary video of a blindfold cuber get hooked up to a brain monitoring machine and they took readings while he was memorising and also while he solved it under a black cloth. (he couldn't use a blindfold because he had lots of wires stuck to his head) Can anyone find this and post the link, I'm sure the person was a young asian looking male

Was it the video a bit higher on this very page?

haha, yes it was

doh.

 

[hippofluff]

To think more logically, does anyone have the money or even remotely knows somebady that would be able to help you (us) achieve this goal?

 

[Mike Hughey]

I just realized, a long time ago something like this was discussed, but I don't think it was ever followed through on.

*waits for someone else to post link because I am too lazy to search*

I always like searching for things like this. Here is the thread I thought of:
http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7020

 

[goldencuber]

Yeah that's related to this, it's sad that it was never followed up on.

Oddly enough no one's discussed the possibility of the cube negatively affecting your mind, that is, the 2nd part of my original post.

 

[F.P.]

Doesn't have any effect on intelligence.

 

[Stefan]

Doesn't have any effect on intelligence.

Proof please.

 

[tim]

Doesn't have any effect on intelligence.

Proof please.

Santa was thought up specifically as a lie

Proof please.

You can't say anything else, can you?

 

[goldencuber]

Doesn't have any effect on intelligence.

Proof please.

Santa was thought up specifically as a lie

Proof please.

You can't say anything else, can you?

I find that funny.

Anyway cubing definitely increases your "cognitive reserve" when you learn to do the cube (More connections are formed in your brain. Don't get it? use google.com) I find doing the cube way easier than i did when i first solved it, which proves that my brain has adapted itself for cubing. Adaptation=higher cognitive reserve=better for brain

But, after as you get faster, you're brain begins adapting less and less. In fact, the easier it is to do something, the less brainpower your using. My essential question is this, would the adaptation your brain develops to get from say...avg of 17 to avg of 15 really be (brain health wise) worth the hours of practice? Likely your brain adapts less per minute of solving time as you get faster. (Like watching television, your brain's working, but not enough...so you end up w/ Alzheimer's)

 

[F.P.]

Doesn't have any effect on intelligence.

Proof please.

By practicing to solve the cube you are practising to solve the cube.
And after one has solved the cube a few times, the brain gets bored eventually anyway.

You can improve your memory by practising certain techniques but that doesn't have any effect on your natural memory ability.
They haven't even found a way yet to successfully improve the working memory (even though some scientists claim they actually did).

And they also haven't found a way to improve intelligence; and solving the cube doesn't help as well...no matter if you do it two-handed, one-handed, blindfolded, whatever.

Someone being able to solve the cube and suddenly getting higher math grades doesn't really have anything to do with this person being able to solve the cube but rather with the higher interest in maths (probably motivated by the cube).


@goldencuber:

I really wouldn't use google to gather information about this topic...because that's why people end up with biased information like you - I guess you didn't read that those "more connections" can also have the complete opposite effect of what you call "cognitive reserve" and can actually cause information to be forwarded slower.

And that cubing is easier for you is because you have practised it (for hours) and that didn't improve your cognitive abilities on other areas.

I can't believe that people really think that if they solve the endless amount of puzzles/brain teasers which are available nowaydays, they actually improve anything besides the ability to solve those certain puzzles...hell, everyone should be a genius.

 

[badmephisto]

I agree with F.P. on this
Intelligence is a higher level ability, and cubing is a specific activity that merely requires some dexterity and a little bit of memorization (and you could agree spatial ability etc. or whatever). But I don't see why cubing should increase anyone's overall intelligence. Your neural pathways will adjust to allow you to solve it faster by more quickly recognizing the specific patterns, etc., and you get the muscle memory to execute specific moves quicker, but none of this probably has anything to do with information processing at large.

The most direct consequence I think the cube may have on your intelligence is ironically its placebo effect if you think this is true. Spending more time in general solving various problems (and Not just cube problems), either because you like it, or because you think you like it, or because you think you are good at it, could potentially make you better in general. Its hard to say.

 

[Swoncen]

Someone being able to solve the cube and suddenly getting higher math grades doesn't really have anything to do with this person being able to solve the cube but rather with the higher interest in maths (probably motivated by the cube).

That's what I thought. Also if one thinks that he/she is now more intelligent he/she is more motivated to learn or study because he/she is proud of that. I don't have a proof but I observed some of these things.

 

[goldencuber]

By practicing to solve the cube you are practising to solve the cube.
And after one has solved the cube a few times, the brain gets bored eventually anyway.

Yes, that is a FP'd version of my initial question (which no one's talked about, by the way.)

You can improve your memory by practising certain techniques but that doesn't have any effect on your natural memory ability.
They haven't even found a way yet to successfully improve the working memory (even though some scientists claim they actually did).

no effect? The brain is not a static object, it's constantly changing. Define what you mean by "natural ability"

And they also haven't found a way to improve intelligence; and solving the cube doesn't help as well...no matter if you do it two-handed, one-handed, blindfolded, whatever.

Someone being able to solve the cube and suddenly getting higher math grades doesn't really have anything to do with this person being able to solve the cube but rather with the higher interest in maths (probably motivated by the cube).

@goldencuber:

I really wouldn't use google to gather information about this topic...because that's why people end up with biased information like you - I guess you didn't read that those "more connections" can also have the complete opposite effect of what you call "cognitive reserve" and can actually cause information to be forwarded slower.

Intelligence is a relative term, and you didn't define exactly what you meant by intellegence (IQ tests, brain size, what?.) But... check out these links
http://www3.ac-clermont.fr/pedago/anglaislp/ressources/sujets/bep_2002_4.htm (taxi drivers and better memory)

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/News/...tion.aspx?articleID=8071&categoryID=news-type
(mentions how playing the violin, which is closely associated with fingers...hint hint, develops sections of the brain more. Also, if gives an introduction of how the brain functions, which would be helpful for some to read)

It's quite true too many neural connections can cause lags in neuro response time. However, the brain is constantly changing these connections, destroying some, adding others, etc. Cubing or other activities do not create too many connections. Brain cell's actually decrease in number as you grow older, no matter how much you learn.

I can't believe that people really think that if they solve the endless amount of puzzles/brain teasers which are available nowaydays, they actually improve anything besides the ability to solve those certain puzzles...hell, everyone should be a genius.

Of course, people who read much or do crossword puzzles just accidentally score high on reading sections of SAT's, and people who waste their time on puzzles/brain teasers and use their brain often just happen to have healthier brains more resistant to degeneration too.

And that cubing is easier for you is because you have practised it (for hours) and that didn't improve your cognitive abilities on other areas.

By practicing your brain establishes new and more efficient neural connections. That's why it's easier. Which goes back to cognitive reserve. And you spelled practice "practised"