Study Finds Middle-Aged Brains Perform Better at Some Cognitive Tests
Posted on July 29, 2010
Dr. Jennifer Ashton talks about the Seattle Longitudinal Study, a research group that has been testing six thousand people every seven years since 1956. The studies have found that many people perform better on cognitive tests in their forties and fifties than they did when they were in their twenties. The tests found people in there 40s and 50s ranked higher in scores on deductive reasoning, spatial orientation skills, verbal memory and problem solving. However, people with younger brains did better on mental skill tests, such as rapid number computation and how fast you can press a button when prompted.
Here's an interesting video from BrainCraft that investigates when we reach our mental peak. It may depend on which type of intelligence is being measured and whether or not it can be measured accurately. Take a look:
