Origami good for the brain?

chesslo · Post by **chesslo** » April 12th, 2008, 11:43 pm

Do you guys think that solving CPs is an exercise for your brain like playing chess?

And I am pretty good at chess myself, if anyone wants a game you can find me at chesshere.com(same name)

Jonnycakes · Post by **Jonnycakes** » April 13th, 2008, 12:26 am

I definitely think it is good for your mind. Solving and creating origami crease patterns is a puzzle, and an artistic one at that. Math (calculating creases), logic (order of pre-creasing and method of collapsing), and creativity (shaping, what details to include, proportions) are all involved. CP folding is always an exercise for the brain.

eric_son · Post by **eric_son** » April 13th, 2008, 12:45 am

I once read an article (or could it have been a foreword in one of my origami books) about how Origami exercises and improves spatial mathematics skills (e.g. geometry).

Sure enough, I had really high grades in my high school geometry.

Finward · Post by **Finward** » April 13th, 2008, 3:47 am

Hummm. i think its quite a logical process, but not shure if its involved in the same processes than playing chess. I completely suck at chess, but i think i can descipher and create CPs with some ability, i just dont fold them quite often because im a bit lazy.
However, i think that chess needs the ability of predict movements, needs some of "reading minds", needs strategic thinking; while folding needs more like spacial calculation, you have to fold things in mind, you need a big imagination.
I really dont know, im just talking for talk.

godzebu · Post by **godzebu** » April 13th, 2008, 3:50 am

I can tell you....

IT IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR BRAIN!!!

YOU START TO FEEL ILL, DEPRESSED, AND LOST..

LOL I Am Just kidding (and expressing my frustrations)

I think solving CP is very relaxing.. but also engage my brain at the same time... Over all, I highly recommand it!

happy folding everyone!

zebu

klnothincomin · Post by **klnothincomin** » April 13th, 2008, 4:42 am

I think origami keeps you awake and strengthens your mind, to me, origami is like a way of life, you start it, and it will go on until you finish it.

JeossMayhem · Post by **JeossMayhem** » April 13th, 2008, 5:53 am

I bought Brain Age 2 for Nintendo DS and Dr. Kawashima (who is apparently from Tohoku University Future Technology Collaborative Research Center's Professor Ryuta Kawashima) recommends origami as a thinking exercise. That's all the proof I need, hahaha.

Jonnycakes · Post by **Jonnycakes** » April 13th, 2008, 5:55 pm

Finward wrote:Hummm. i think its quite a logical process, but not shure if its involved in the same processes than playing chess. I completely suck at chess, but i think i can descipher and create CPs with some ability, i just dont fold them quite often because im a bit lazy.
However, i think that chess needs the ability of predict movements, needs some of "reading minds", needs strategic thinking; while folding needs more like spacial calculation, you have to fold things in mind, you need a big imagination.
I really dont know, im just talking for talk.

You have a very good point there. I am also not a chess person, but I imagine that chess and CP-solving are two quite different intellectual exercises that require different mental skills.

However, there are certainly areas that overlap. If you strengthen your brain by folding CPs, then you will certainly be better at chess because of your increased mental ability. It is training for your brain no matter what you are using it for, even though you are honing some skills more than others.

Gearfold · Post by **Gearfold** » April 13th, 2008, 6:54 pm

Whenever I fold, I sort of space out and get really annoyed when people break my concentration. Then I get into a bad mood. -_-

Fishgoth · Post by **Fishgoth** » April 13th, 2008, 10:01 pm

As the cleverest person on this forum*, my opinion is that origami, along with any other problem-solving technique is good for the brain.

However, there is little double-blind randomised controlled trials to demonstrate this.

This is some published research to suggest that origami/paper folding may be of benefit in some way in improving motor skills in subjects with learning difficulties, or may be of use is group therapy.

On a personal level, I find origami helps me relax, improves my hand-eye coordination, and had probably aided my problem solving skills.

*and also the most modest

eric_son · Post by **eric_son** » April 14th, 2008, 3:20 am

The extent of the brain development depends on how much effort one exerts on folding Diagrams and CP's and how one tries to learn from them.

Take folding from diagrams for instance. If you just follow the steps and not try to recognize some repetitive patterns (e.g. hmm... this folding sequence looks like half a bird base!), you won't really be exercising your brains. Maybe just your motor skills.

Likewise, for CP's, if you just try to keep folding the lines at random and hope that it finally collapses and turns into the base, then you're really not exercising your brain to the fullest. (As opposed to ... hmm... that section over there looks like an unfolded frog base! I know how to fold that!)

bethnor · Post by **bethnor** » April 14th, 2008, 4:32 am

good for brain.

bad, bad, verybad for wallet

aesthetistician · Post by **aesthetistician** » April 14th, 2008, 9:47 am

However, there is little double-blind randomised controlled trials to demonstrate this.

You do realise that a double-blind randomised controlled trial would not be remotely possible, right? Since it would involve randomising subjects to two groups (easy to do), thinking of a 'control' activity for one group (harder to do) and giving them an IQ test. But to make it double-blind you'd have to arrange it so that neither the researchers nor the subjects knew which group they were in. Can you think of any way to have someone practice origami without knowing whther or not they were doing so? Cos I can't!

wolis · Post by **wolis** » April 14th, 2008, 2:40 pm

Having recently become obessed with folding.. Id say origami is a form of meditation.. and its very addictive.

angrydemon · Post by **angrydemon** » April 14th, 2008, 2:50 pm

bethnor wrote:good for brain.

bad, bad, verybad for wallet

Why? Do you use platinum plated foil paper?