Driving Manual Transmissions: Evidence for Healthier Brain Activity from Professor Ryuta Kawashima

A recent Japanese study, reported by BestCarWeb and led by Professor Ryuta Kawashima of Toko University's Institute for Development, Aging and Cancer, investigated how driving manual versus automatic transmissions affects the brain. Kawashima, renowned for creating the science behind Nintendo's Brain Age series, used neuroimaging to measure brain activity. The study found that operating a manual transmission—manually changing gears, using the clutch and throttle, monitoring the road, and anticipating gear needs—significantly stimulates the prefrontal cortex, which governs memory, attention, and decision-making. This activation is notably greater than in automatic driving, suggesting manual driving is not only more engaging but also healthier for cognitive function. The speaker asserts that these findings support the belief that manual-transmission enthusiasts are "better drivers" due to greater attention and planning, and they now have evidence that manual driving "is actually making your brain healthier." The recommendations are explicit: choose manual transmission for both engagement and health benefits.