poker and your brain - Page 3

which asshole revived this worthless thread

great article

Ridiculous article.

Poker has been amazing for my brain. Sitting at a computer for 80+ hours a week playing an online game, I had nothing better to do than improve myself. I was able to track the data from my EEG over many months of play and show a direct and high correlation with my concentration levels and winrate. With real-time neurofeedback I trained myself to keep higher levels of sustained concentration for longer periods of time. I had greater or equal quantities of REM over less hours of sleep. These are things I would never had the patience to do if I hadn't been engaging in an activity where my focus so directly and immediately affected my success. I also found renewed interest in higher level mathematics.
I'd say the most damaging thing to my brain was the amount of stress incurred from the swings and most of that was my own fault for risking financial loss to the degree that could so negatively impact my mental state.

What's really astounding to me is how many of the traits and learned skills I picked up from playing poker that have carried over to my life after poker all across the board.