University of Padua studies reveal selective cognitive effects of play in children

Two studies conducted by the University of Padua's Department of General Psychology suggest that play does not provide a generic improvement to all cognitive abilities. Instead, research published in “Computers in Human Behavior Reports” and “Behavioural Brain Research” indicates that play temporarily modifies how cognitive resources are utilized, favoring certain processing modes over others.

The research found that play can increase a child's readiness to perceive environmental stimuli but may simultaneously reduce efficiency in tasks requiring high levels of executive cognitive control, such as managing numerous distractors. In a study involving 48 preschool children, both social play (using Mario Kart) and object-based play (using Tangram) facilitated rapid responses to stimuli, but resulted in less stable performance in sensorimotor aiming tasks.

Telmo Pievani, a philosopher of biology, noted that social play involving chases and playful wrestling may enhance the ability to handle unexpected situations. The findings suggest a temporary shift in cognitive balance toward rapid environmental detection rather than precision and controlled cognitive processing.