Benefits of Escape Rooms and Solving Puzzles

Benefits of Escape Rooms and solving puzzles

By Leslie Kell

 

The whole point of an escape room is to search for clues and solve puzzles and they are a ton of fun for anyone to enjoy, but  there might be more to escape rooms besides simply being an enjoyable activity. The act of problem and puzzle solving is actually very beneficial for brain function, and brain activity.

It’s no secret that escape rooms are probably one of the most fun activity that anyone could do, but it’s actually been proven that solving puzzles, as you would do in an escape room, improves your mood. An article in USA Today explains that solving puzzles “increases our brain’s’ production of dopamine,” the neurotransmitter that regulates our mood. Every time we correctly solve a puzzle, dopamine is released in our brain. No wonder escape rooms are so much fun! Along with the production of dopamine in our brain, solving puzzles also helps us to regulate stress because, surprisingly, puzzle solving can help us to relax. This is due to the shift in focus that happens when we are puzzle solving. So if you’re stressed, an escape room could be the perfect solution!

Also according to the article in USA Today, solving puzzles improves memory recall by reinforcing the existing connections between our brain cells. As a result, we can improve our mental speed and thought process. This also makes sense in escape rooms because, as any experienced escape player would know, sometimes clues are found before they are actually needed to solve a puzzle. In that instant players must use memory recall to remember where they found certain clues, or perhaps the order in which those clues were found.

Another awesome benefit to solving puzzles is accelerated ingenuity. This means that when we are solving puzzles and problem solving, our brains are forced to create new ideas in order to come up with a solution. For example, puzzles force us to use trial and error. As we are working through a puzzle, we are actually working through a series of educated guesses, and using creativity to test our theories. This type of problem solving encourages us to be creative and innovative in a unique way.

Puzzle solving is a great workout for the brain! Through problem solving, and working through puzzles, we get the opportunity to use our brains in a unique way and strengthen various parts of the brain. We are able to become more creative, improve our memory, and relieve stress! If simply solving puzzles can help the brain function better, just think what an hour in an escape room can do for you!