Cognitive Endurance - Domo Futu
What if the key to thriving in our fast-paced, intellectually demanding world isn’t just about learning more but thinking better—longer and harder? Enter the concept of cognitive endurance, a mental capacity that could redefine how we approach education, productivity, and even socioeconomic equity.
Cognitive endurance is the ability to sustain effortful thinking over continuous periods. Imagine the focus required to complete an exam, draft a complex report, or make critical decisions during a high-stakes meeting. This capacity is foundational to many aspects of life and work. Yet, it’s rarely discussed as a skill that can be trained.
Recent research has shone a light on this overlooked dimension of human capital. This work challenges the notion that cognitive endurance is fixed, instead revealing its remarkable malleability through intentional practice.
In a groundbreaking field experiment involving over 1,600 primary school students in India, researchers sought to test whether focused cognitive practice could build mental stamina. The students, from under-resourced schools, were divided into three groups:
