Summary: Using a combination of brain stimulation, physical exercise and computer based cognitive training, researchers report people were better at specific skill learning than when using cognitive training alone.

Source: University of Illinois.

Just as athletes cross-train to improve physical skills, those wanting to enhance cognitive skills can benefit from multiple ways of exercising the brain, according to a comprehensive new study from University of Illinois researchers.

The 18-week study of 318 healthy young adults found that combining physical exercise and mild electric brain stimulation with computer-based cognitive training promoted skill learning significantly more than using cognitive training alone.

The enhanced learning was skill-specific and did not translate to general intelligence. The study, the largest and most comprehensive to date, was published in the journal Scientific Reports.

“Learning provides the foundation for acquiring new skills and updating prior beliefs in light of new knowledge and…