Yury Shtyrov on Cognitive Well-being: How to Maintain Effective Brain Function in the Digital Age

Yury Shtyrov, Director of the Cognitive Health and Intelligence Centre at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), discussed in an interview with IQ Media the concept of cognitive well-being and why it is becoming a key factor for health and success in modern person's life. He emphasized that cognitive well-being encompasses not only memory, attention, and thinking but also the ability to adapt to new conditions, efficiently use mental resources, and make balanced decisions.

He highlighted a concerning trend: many people today, including youth and highly educated individuals, increasingly struggle with processing complex and lengthy texts. This is linked to digitalization and changing information consumption habits, which may negatively affect deep thinking and analytical skills.

The interview also covers mechanisms of speech perception and learning, the importance of healthy sleep for memory and learning, and the phenomenon of insight—a sudden realization often occurring after reflection that leads to creative solutions. Additionally, it addresses time perception and the role of cognitive reserve, which helps the brain cope with aging and stress.

Why even educated people lose deep reading ability? How does sleep influence intelligence? What unexpected mechanisms lie behind our insights? Find answers to these and other questions in the full interview with Yury Shtyrov available on IQ Media (Russian version only).