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Effect of Mahjong on children's intelligence quotient
Takefumi Higashijima1, Taisuke Akimoto1, Katsumi Sakata1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Yokohama City University Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 13, 2022
Summary
Playing Mahjong, an intellectual table game, significantly boosts children's intelligence quotient (IQ). Specifically, children showed improved processing speed index (PSI) scores after participating in Mahjong classes.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Child Development
- Game Studies
Background:
- Intellectual activities are crucial for cognitive development in children.
- Table games involving strategic thinking may enhance cognitive functions.
- Mahjong is a complex game requiring memory, strategy, and pattern recognition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of Mahjong participation on the intelligence quotient (IQ) of children aged 6-15.
- To assess changes in specific cognitive abilities, including verbal comprehension and processing speed.
- To compare cognitive improvements in children playing Mahjong against a historical control group.
Main Methods:
- Twenty children aged 6-15 participated in Mahjong classes.
- Intelligence quotient (IQ) was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) at baseline and after 1 year.
- Changes in IQ scores were compared to a historical control group with similar demographics and test-retest intervals.
Main Results:
- Overall full-scale IQ scores significantly increased from 106.05 to 113.75 (p < 0.01).
- Verbal Comprehension Index (VCI) and Processing Speed Index (PSI) scores showed statistically significant improvements.
- The increase in PSI scores was significantly greater in the Mahjong group compared to the historical control group.
Conclusions:
- Participation in Mahjong classes is associated with enhanced cognitive abilities in children.
- Mahjong may be a beneficial activity for improving processing speed and overall IQ in children.
- Further research is warranted to explore the long-term cognitive benefits of playing Mahjong in childhood.
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