You Can Contribute to Cognitive Science by Playing Chess
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Understanding Cognition Through Chess
Grandmaster Jana Schneider is delving into the realm of cognition with her passion for chess. As a student at the University of Würzburg, she’s investigating whether our brains are more adept at processing two-dimensional (2D) or three-dimensional (3D) information. Her thesis involves an experiment designed to compare how effectively individuals can solve 2D chess puzzles against their 3D counterparts.
A Call for Participants
Schneider is inviting anyone interested to take part in her study, but time is of the essence as the opportunity to join is closing soon. If you’re ready to engage for about thirty minutes, click the link below to participate in her test. Keep in mind, as noted by ChessBase, the link will only be available once.
Join the Test Here
Eligibility Criteria
To participate, individuals must be at least 18 years old, possess a basic understanding of chess rules, and should not have any visual impairments. Furthermore, a device with a keyboard is necessary, as the test is incompatible with smartphones.
Incentives for Participation
Beyond contributing to valuable research, participants will also be entered into a raffle for tickets to Euroschach Versand, which are valued at around 300 euros. If you’re uncertain about what this event entails, winning these tickets might provide an opportunity to sell them online.
Additionally, after completing the puzzles, you will receive feedback on your results, giving you insights into whether your brain favors 2D or 3D visualizations.
Potential Implications of the Research
While this study alone may not provide definitive answers, it could pave the way for a deeper understanding of our cognitive preferences in chess—specifically whether playing on a traditional board or through a flat online interface is more advantageous for us. It’s important to clarify that the focus of this experiment will be strictly on comparing performance between 2D and 3D chess problems in an online setting.