Facebook pixel
Go to home page

Play Strategy and Innovation Games

A person making a decisive move in a game of chess.

Why does your brain enjoy a good puzzle?

Focusing on a challenging puzzle invokes possibility thinking and innovation. Seek out enjoyable games that require decision-making, problem-solving and higher-order reasoning.

SCIENCE SAYS:

Not all "brain games" are created equal. Many popular online puzzles and games keep your brain "busy," but only a fraction of them stimulate higher-level thinking, like synthesis of ideas from different sources, filtering of minor details, and innovating new ideas to solve problems.

WAYS TO BEGIN:

  • Start a game night with friends and try a new game each week.
  • Experiment with types of games and times of day, based upon your routine.
  • Seek out games that excite new ways of thinking, rather than repeat the same old ideas.
  • Keep an open mind: A game you did not enjoy today may play out differently tomorrow.

Share this article


TRY ANOTHER KNOW BRAINER: How can you make innovation a habit?

SMART Brain Training

More than a decade of clinical trials show our SMART brain training can strengthen the frontal networks – regions that support attention, planning, judgment and emotional management.