Motorcycles Make You Smarter

OFF THE WIRE
Scientific study: motorcycles make you smarter
March 4, 2009
By Wes Siler
The scientist who invented "Brain Age," a popular mental training game for the Nintendo DS , has discovered that riding motorcycles can improve cognitive function. Ryuta Kawashima partnered with Yamaha Japan and Tohoku University to study the effects of motorcycle riding on middle-aged men, finding, "In a convenient and easy environment, the human mind and body get used to setting the hurdle low. Our final conclusion is that riding motorcycles can lead to smart ageing."
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22 men in their 40s and 50s who had motorcycle licenses but had not
ridden for at least a decade were used for the study. Half were made to
ride a motorcycle everyday for two months, while the other half were
forbidden to. The two groups were given a series of tests before and
after that period. "The group that rode motorbikes posted higher marks
in cognitive function tests," Kawashima said.
One test had the group attempt to remember a set of numbers in reverse
order. The motorcyclists improved their scores by more than 50% after
the two months while the non-riders' scores decreased marginally. The
motorcyclists also reported making fewer mistakes at work and generally
feeling "happier."
Because riding a motorcycle requires a high level of alertness and
rapid problem solving, Kawashima found, "the driver's brain gets
activated by riding motorbikes." He went on to conclude, "Mental care
is a very big issue in modern society. I think we made an interesting
stir here as data showed you can improve your mental condition simply
by using motorbikes to commute."