Chess and education

Chess has long been an object of study in the fields of education and psychology.

Mónica Paniagua Benito delves into this topic in her study The Effects of Chess on Cognitive Processes, exploring how regular chess practice improves the cognitive abilities of primary school students.

The study, conducted in two public schools in Extremadura, focused on 60 students, 30 of whom participated in a chess program.

Aspects of perception, attention, memory and executive function were evaluated through a series of tests and quizzes aimed at determining the effect of chess on these processes.

More than a simple game, chess is an intellectual challenge that requires strong analytical, planning and decision-making skills. Therefore, it is considered as a potentially valuable didactic tool capable of stimulating and enhancing the cognitive abilities of students.

Paniagua-Benito's hypothesis is that the constant practice of chess improves skills such as perception, attention, memory and executive function, all of which are fundamental for learning and cognitive development.

One of the key aspects highlighted by the study is the role of attention in learning. Attention, understood as the process that allows us to select and process some stimuli while ignoring others, is fundamental to avoid information overload.

In a world in which we are constantly bombarded with stimuli, the ability to filter and focus on relevant information is essential. In this sense, chess, which requires sustained and selective attention, can be an excellent training for this cognitive skill.