We all use our cognitive abilities every day to perceive and process information. We are doing better today than 100 years ago, as a new empirical study shows. But we have to come to terms with the fact that from around our mid-30s the curve of our cognitive performance stagnates.
Scientists Anthony Strittmatter (University of St. Gallen), Uwe Sunde (LMU) and Dainis Zegners (RSM) recognized this with their research using data on chess players.. "In our empirical model we fall back on data from the professional chess game, which is paradigmatic for mental work," explains Sunde.
The results suggest that the conditions under which we grow up are decisive for cognitive development. Ofcourse, that also includes the technological environment.