Every morning, millions of people begin their day with a crossword, Sudoku or word puzzle. Some solve them while drinking coffee. Others do them during their commute or before going to bed. To outsiders, it may look like a simple hobby. But psychology suggests something much deeper is happening. People who regularly solve puzzles are often engaging multiple systems of the brain at the same time. They are practicing attention, memory, problem-solving and mental flexibility. More importantly, they are participating in a behavior psychologists have long associated with healthy cognitive engagement. The puzzle itself may not be the story. The repeated act of challenging the brain is.
Here is what psychology says may actually be happening.
