How 3D Wooden Puzzles & Models Help Boost Your Brain Activity?

All of us that love to build 3D wooden puzzles know how enjoyable it can be to take a break from work or chores with one. They are a beloved hobby alongside model building for many people of different ages and interests. But did you know that the act of building these models does a lot of good to both your cognitive abilities and mental health?

Model building kits are the gift that keeps on giving. So how do 3D wooden puzzles & models help boost your brain activity? Here are five ways that puzzles and model building change our brain activity for the better.

1) Promote A Positive Change in Brain Chemistry

Our moods are at the mercy of fluctuations in essential hormones and chemicals. In times of high stress and anxiety, cortisol can flood the brain and make us tense and upset. During moments of joy and achievement, we get a surge of dopamine and a sense of instant gratification.

What we need is an activity that will not only help raise dopamine levels but also lower cortisol. Researchers recommend any form of hobby and regular relaxing activity to keep this in check, but puzzles and model building are both highly effective. The soothing repetitive motion and single-focus activity help to calm us down, while the accomplishments in assembling the pieces provide that dopamine spike.

2) Train Both Sides of The Brain at Once

This one is interesting for all those curious about whether they are left-brained or right-brained. Typically, the right brain is the more creative side and often leads to people being more disorganized, emotional, spontaneous, and artistic. The left brain is the more analytical side that works with logical thinking and a more objective mindset.

Often, we will find hobbies that either use the stronger side or activities to challenge the weaker one. With model building and 3D wooden puzzles, both sides get a workout. The logical process of sorting and putting together the pieces trains the left side, while the design of the model and the opportunities for creative expression stimulate the right side.

3) Improve Skills Like Spatial Orientation & Short-Term Memory

While training both sides of the brain, these puzzles can enhance some significant skills. The more often you complete these puzzles and the more challenging the model, the better those skills become. Spatial orientation is an excellent example because you need to be able to visualize which piece fits in which gap, as well as how the pieces relate to each other in a 3D form. It isn't always easy to see how a series of 2D elements will turn into an intricate model.

This process also boosts short-term memory by encouraging model builders to remember the image of the finished design, what pieces they have in their inventory and their plan of action for putting it all together.

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4) Great Tools For Boosting Concentration

Many of us struggle with concentration when faced with too many tasks, and this ability to stick to a task and make the most of it can be even more difficult for those with ADHD. It is too easy to attempt to multitask and end up procrastinating. Working on 3D wooden puzzles and other model-building kits may help with this.

These activities, with their logical processes, forward planning, and repetitive movements, help us stay on track and work towards a clear goal. Kids with ADHD can also get a great sense of achievement for getting through a puzzle by themselves and seeing their efforts in a beautifully finished model.

5) Slow Cognitive Degeneration for Better Brain Activity

Finally, it is worth noting that regular use of Wooden 3D puzzles & DIY model kits can help slow mental decline. Seniors and those reaching retirement age have shown positive improvements in their memory and general cognitive skills for far longer than those that don't keep their brains active.

Consider Getting Or Gifting Wooden Puzzles And Models To Challenge The Brain.

Whether you fancy testing out your own cognitive skills with a new 3D wooden puzzle, or feel they would benefit someone close to you, there are lots of great options. Find a design that you love, organize all the pieces, and see how this fun activity can boost your brain activity.