Study Links Complex Work With More Effiicient Brain

A new study shows that regardless of IQ, anyone who works at complex jobs will have an improved change of becoming a better, more critical, more efficient thinker over time.

“When we look at the association between complexity of work with people or data, we see that those in more complex jobs generally do better on a range of cognitive ability measures,” reports study co-author Alan Gow. The School of LIfe Sciences at Heriot-Watt University of Edinburgh assistant professor of psychology goes on to say, “That’s not necessarily surprising…but we were able to add an interesting twist.”

Gow continues, “It’s been proposed, for example, that more complex work with people and data might require the deployment of various cognitive abilities; this may develop these skills, or at least protect them from decline, and people are exploring what those suggested mechanisms might actually look like in terms of changes in the brain.”

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He adds, “The reason I focus on factors like these is taht many, though not all, of course, are amenable to change. If we can identify the thnigs that protect or harm our cognitive abilities, we will be able to provide clear information or design better interventions.”

Sian Beilock, a psychology professor at the University of Chicago, comments, “I think the opportunity to use our thinking and reasoning skills and continually use them throughout our lives likely contributes to our ability to stay sharp. So being able to do complex thinking and reasoning in our profession is one way to continually flex our cognitive horsepower or brain power.”
“Doing things to get rid of those worries, whether reminding yourself you have lots of experience or jotting down things (like worries) in notes…can help ensure you can use all the brain power at your disposal.”

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