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What are Brain Teasers?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Brain teasers are exercises which are designed to stimulate cognitive function, encouraging the brain to work to complete the exercise. While many people like to do brain teasers for fun, these simple exercises have other uses. Neurologists, for example, often utilize them when they work with patients and try to arrive at a diagnosis, and teachers often use them in the classroom as educational tools.

Some studies also seem to suggest that doing brain teasers can actually help to keep the mind more fit. In older adults, people who do brain teasers tend to perform better on a variety of tasks related to cognitive function, and this improvement is most consistently seen in people who exercise their brains on a regular basis. The old man who does the crossword every morning, in other words, is improving his cognitive function in addition to passing the time.

A crossword puzzle is a brain teaser.
A crossword puzzle is a brain teaser.

These exercises can be structured in a number of ways. Generally, they take the form of puzzles which must be solved. The puzzles may be visual, as in the case of pattern recognition games, or they may involve plays on words and numbers. Logic puzzles are also brain teasers. Working with logic puzzles can immensely improve mental acuity and deductive reasoning, as these types of puzzles require people to carefully analyze and interpret information to get the right answer.

Brain teasers are a type of brain exercise that stimulates cognitive function.
Brain teasers are a type of brain exercise that stimulates cognitive function.

Many brain teasers are designed to be completed as solo exercises, but they can be done as groups as well. Educational puzzles often encourage a group effort, so that children develop bonds with each other and learn cooperative techniques which can serve them in good stead later in life. Working cooperatively can also be less frustrating for people who struggle with brain teasers, as the group effort may be able to solve a puzzle which a single person could not finish.

Brain teasers and logic problems play a key role in IQ testing.
Brain teasers and logic problems play a key role in IQ testing.

In the case of logic puzzles, it is not uncommon for multiple answers to occur. The ability to recognize multiple answers and to pick the one which is the most logical, given the available information, is a valuable skill. Many standardized tests use logic puzzles to test the experience and skills of people taking the exam, especially in the case of tests which are used in admissions materials to colleges, as critical thinking is viewed as an important skill for students.

Someone who enjoys brain teasers may have fun completing Sudoku puzzles.
Someone who enjoys brain teasers may have fun completing Sudoku puzzles.

Here's a simple brain teaser for you which involves five young men who participate in a foot race. James comes in before George, but after Charles. John places ahead of Charles, and after Matthew. Given this information, you should be able to order the race results from first to last.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a LanguageHumanities researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a LanguageHumanities researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Chmander

@Viranty - I have one example. The game is known as Zelda Oracle of Ages. Unlike the prequel (Oracle of Seasons), which focuses mostly on combat, Ages has a heavy emphasis on puzzles. Early in the game, you are the given the ability to warp between the past and present. Obviously, what you do in the past affects the present, and vice versa. This makes for some pretty tricky puzzles. The game has too many examples to name, but if you're looking for a brain teaser, I recommend you buy it. Sadly, I don't think it's a game that would interest many people. It drags on for way too long, and it can get insanely frustrating without a walkthrough.

Viranty

@RoyalSpyder - Well, it depends on what kind of video game it is. If it's a first person shooter, or even a racing game, then I would say no, since they're more for entertainment value, and nothing else. However, if you're referring to some of the more puzzling games, such as Metroid and Zelda, then I would say yes. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if many of the puzzles from these games were inspired by known brain teasers and mind benders.

The video game developers may even put an unexpected twist on the puzzles, attempting to trick those who think they already know the solution. I don't know this for a fact, but it's definitely something to think about, and it's a possibility. Overall, one thing I've always found pretty intriguing about video games are the aspects of puzzles. I've always wondered how they're created. I haven't played a lot of games, but does anyone have some good examples of brain teasers in the gaming world?

RoyalSpyder

I really enjoy brain teasers. However, I was wondering - can video games help the brain to get "exercise" as well?

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    • A crossword puzzle is a brain teaser.
      By: Margaret M Stewart
      A crossword puzzle is a brain teaser.
    • Brain teasers are a type of brain exercise that stimulates cognitive function.
      By: James Steidl
      Brain teasers are a type of brain exercise that stimulates cognitive function.
    • Brain teasers and logic problems play a key role in IQ testing.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      Brain teasers and logic problems play a key role in IQ testing.
    • Someone who enjoys brain teasers may have fun completing Sudoku puzzles.
      By: Belkin & Co
      Someone who enjoys brain teasers may have fun completing Sudoku puzzles.