Manual driving study points to a possible brain-training effect

A study attributed to researchers at Tohoku University’s Institute of Development suggests that driving a manual transmission may activate the prefrontal cortex more than driving an automatic. That brain region is associated with memory, attention, and decision-making.

The report says the work was led by Professor Ryuta Kawashima, widely known for his involvement with Nintendo’s Brain Age series. The proposed explanation is that coordinating clutch, gear changes, acceleration, and steering creates a repeated mental and physical task that may act as a light cognitive challenge.

Editors should treat the strongest claims cautiously. The source does not include a link to the primary paper, sample size, testing method, publication venue, or statistical detail, so it is safer to frame the finding as a possible effect rather than proof that manual driving preserves cognitive function.

The story also notes how rare manual cars have become in some markets, citing 1%–2% of new vehicles in Japan and 0.7% of new vehicle sales in the United States in 2024, while Spain and Italy are reported at much higher shares. For a gaming and esports audience, the more relevant angle may be the broader question of whether everyday coordination tasks can complement deliberate brain-training activities.