The brain science of puzzles

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[@julieolson1402]

Accidentally learned as an adult that I liked puzzles. The Zen-like feeling I would get made it hard to tear myself away. Hours would pass without me worrying about a thing. Approximately a decade later I took up drawing and simple painting. The feeling was similar, with a complete reprieve from rumination or worry. There were differences in the activities, each having their own benefits. One of the major positive aspects of puzzles was the lack of prep time. A large puzzle in progress on a dedicated table can be stopped and resumed at any time, and for any lenght of time. Great video.

[@nerudaad]

I feel relaxed doing puzzles. Good to know that science backs it up

[@jungersrules]

One very impactful quote I ran across + starting puzzling, has drastically decreased my anxiety. I often puzzle with my favorite podcast in the background.

[@tamerajohnson7747]

I always did puzzles as a child in my family home and grandparents home. I always associated puzzles with my dad. We always did them together. Then I started doing them with my son as I taught him his colors and shapes and numbers as a 3 and 4 year old. Now I do them on digital because I just don't have the space to store them. I will always have the last puzzle my father and I ever did together.

[@bambubombon]

did u frame it? i used to do puzzles with my mum, though i no longer keep them.

[@hmrbrd7]

I finished 2, 1000 piece puzzles in 2 and a half days. Was having some emotional anxiety. The process helped to clear my mind and feel relaxed. I have always been a fan of puzzles and had not done them for a number of years. This experience has rekindled the NEED to do more puzzling!!!✌😊💕💙🎉

[@kathyrussell9610]

Great article. I used to do puzzles with my kids, and then we got a cat. Years later, my grandsons outgrew their Lego, and I took over their collection. Building with Lego gives my the same calmness and focus that puzzling did all those years ago.

[@MyNaday]

I wrote my thesis regarding behavioural addictions. Pity I didn't see this wonderful document beforehand. Dopamine reward in behaviour in activities is the name of the game

[@davesappleton9786]

Wow!!! So glad I happened upon this and have subscribed. Extremely informative. Very interesting mentioning of Transient Hypofrontality. Many times I do my puzzles while I’m listening to a book on tape. The result of this confluence is that I’m mentally “transported “ to another world where time becomes a blur/nonexistent and the enjoyment of puzzling become heightened. Dopamine seems be released almost in waves. This a very, very surreal experience and is extremely addictive.

[@dustyrose1]

I agree and am starting to experience the “blurring”of time and a kind of….getting out of myself experience. I’m only on my first 2nd puzzle….but I’m addicted already. I believe that some addictions are better than others.

[@dustyrose1]

I have just started my second puzzle and I know I’ll be doing many more. I suffer from what I call anxiety. I can’t tell you how different I’ve been feeling since starting doing puzzles. I believe my brain is reacting in just the way you described. Can’t wait to get back to my puzzle tomorrow. Thank you.

[@soburlvt]

I suffer from anxiety too. I feel that a jigsaw puzzle is the cardboard version of patting a dog! I don't have a dog now but I have been doing many puzzles over the last several years.

[@Amy-sh5zi]

Thank you for this! I have heard puzzles help with dementia, this just took it to a new level. I am sharing this video with several people.

[@69katcat]

Love it!! This came to me at a perfect timing. I suffer from Long Covid, almost 2 years and ongoing. The brain fog is horrendous. Now there is more and more information that the vagus nerve suffers from a dysfunction in a long Covid person... I know of meditation, breathing techniques, humming, yoga, slow walks etc to activate the vagus nerve and I have started to play memory again. Contemplated many times whether puzzles can do that as well. Now I know the answer lol. The Long Covid communities are exchanging information back and forth and I will certainly post your video on social media as well. Many of us (incl. myself) feel highly demented due to concentration problems and memory loss. This is another 'piece of a huge puzzle'. Thank you for that!! Btw, you could actually offer a course directed at LC patients. There are millions of us.

[@lourdesreynaga1209]

I suffer concentration problems and memory loss to (as well as loss of language) due to LC. Make puzzles like a regular activity helps me with all those problems. (Sorry for my English, my first language is spanish 😅)

[@janicelantz3788]

I love puzzles in the winter months. Not so much during the summer months

[@vita2007dog]

I'm 57. I've always loved puzzles and lately tend to do more and more. One reason - my eyes are getting worse and I can't enjoy reading or needlework like I used to. The other - I do find them relaxing. For the past couple of years life has been very stressful, and I feel I'm constantly adding pressure to my nerves doomscrolling. Here is the question. I am doing puzzles listening to podcasts about the current political situation, which is the primary cause of my anxiety. I still feel better after puzzling and enjoy the process. Dies it make sense at all? Should I better do it without listening to political analysts?

[@renasotiriou2088]

Is there any difference if you are making puzzles in you tablet or mobile than making the traditional puzzles?

[@RicPuzzles]

This is very insightful and informative, thank you!

[@2ksawyer]

I’m 65 and just started doing jigsaw puzzles with my husband. I’m praying that this is helpful to my brain. I feel like I’m declining in my short term memory. Will puzzles help?

[@jenningsmichaelrosner9855]

Amazing video, sir! Thank you for taking the time to Share your interests/ knowledge! I Love ‘puzzles’ myself; Moreso like You mentioned tho, it’s the Pattern Recognition of ~Anything that keeps me intrigued, invested and much more likely to ‘give it’ my own ‘precious resources’!! My Dad, a Mechanical Engineer by trade, education and experience. He Loves Soduko, I was incredibly interested to ~Learn that those skills garnered thru the experience of ‘games’ like Soduko, ~simply lend themselves to making One better at Soduko, tho!! Me, I’m also an Engineer by education, experience; but my thing is Pattern Recognition. Fantastic video, new subscriber; really appreciate this, thank you!

[@TheDaveOutlaw]

The pattern recognition goes with all our senses puzzles just use sight . Lots of other games like name that tune or trying to guess what you are feeling or tasting or smelling while blind folded cover hearing , touching smelling and tasting patterns . These amazing abilities are the first thing we learn after we are born when we identify patterns that repeat we feel safer as we hear our parents voice or feel their warm touch or see the patterns of their smiling face but even patterns that do not give us a warning to be on alert until we feel we have confirmed if they are safe .. good idea to research puzzles . Thanks for the 5hough5 provoking idea

[@Carterofmars]

Love puzzles.

[@unicornconservationco]

I'm not a fan of jigsaw puzzles, but it's been awhile and maybe time to try again! Curious if some of these benefits transfers to solve-a-mystery games. We play and make games of this genre and I can see the pattern recognition and hyper-focus having parallel effects - and of course to dopamine hits of solving something! Thanks for the informative video.

[@TimKapow]

Would building the same puzzle (say for example it was a difficult one like a Rosenberger Krypt which is blank and built with a spiral) still have an effect? Or would it be the same as just practicing the same thing over ie: you just get good at that puzzle? Would flipping it and building it from a different perspective (top, side, bottom) potentially create enough of a change to stimulate the mind? Like when exercising we can implement various techniques to increase time under tension and stress?