Brain power
In a pioneering study conducted by the Human Understanding Agency and Walnut Unlimited, researchers explored how Cunard’s Transatlantic Crossing impacts the mind and body. Forty guests from around the globe embarked on the classic voyage from Southampton to New York, with biometric tools capturing their cognitive and physiological states before and after five days at sea.
The findings were extraordinary – here’s what the seafarers saw improve:
– Memory: Word recall improved by an impressive 29 percent, highlighting enhanced short-term memory.
– Problem-solving: Complex logical and spatial reasoning skills soared by 125 percent.
– Attention: Visual task focus increased by 14 percent.
– Relaxation: Self-reported relaxation surged by 158 percent, while stress hormone levels decreased by 35 percent.
Dr Jack Lewis, a neuroscientist involved in the study, remarked: “What stands out for me in this study is how neatly all the pieces fit together. The passengers’ time on the ship clearly reduced their stress levels, based on subjective and objective measures.
“The main stress hormone cortisol is well-known in the science research literature to interfere with various cognitive processes. So the boost in memory and logical reasoning capacity identified in this study is likely to be attributed to the stress-relieving impact of ocean travel.
“This combined with the amazing array of stimulating activities onboard the world’s only ocean liner, allows the passengers’ brains to unlock their full potential.”
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