Professor Ryuta Kawashima of Tohoku University in Japan, known for Nintendo's Brain Age brain-training game series, led a study revealing that manual car drivers exhibit higher activation in the prefrontal cortex. This brain region is crucial for planning, decision-making, and multitasking.

Unlike automatic cars, manual vehicles demand constant coordination of the clutch pedal, accelerator pedal, gear shift, and steering wheel. Drivers must also monitor engine revolutions, select the appropriate gear, and time gear changes. This sequence of actions, according to Kawashima's team, provides a form of brain "exercise" during driving.

Kawashima suggests these activities stimulate the brain region controlling cognitive functions, helping maintain brain flexibility as people age. However, he clarifies that driving a manual car cannot prevent or treat dementia. The results only indicate a correlation between manual car operation and brain activity levels.

A 7-speed manual transmission on a Porsche model. Photo: Carscoops.

This study emerges as manual cars become increasingly rare in the market. In Japan, manual transmissions currently account for only 1-2% of new car sales, with most buyers opting for automatic, hybrid, or electric vehicles.

This isn't the first time scientists have noted the cognitive benefits of manual cars. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders found that participants focused better and drove more safely when operating a manual car in a simulation. However, that study was small-scale and requires further trials for confirmation.

Despite these findings, experts caution that manual cars are not suitable for everyone. In heavy traffic or frequent urban driving, automatic transmissions offer convenience and significantly reduce fatigue. The choice of transmission ultimately depends on individual needs, skills, and preferences.

Ho Tan (according to Carscoops)