Want to give your mental skills a boost? Have a good conversation with a friend, says a University of Michigan study. Although friendly conversations can help you solve everyday problems, reports HealthDay, competitive interaction isn't helpful.

Undergraduates interacted in short, 10-minute conversations during which they got to know each other. Researchers examined the effects the conversations had on executive cognitive function, which includes working memory and is essential in everyday life. They discovered the conversations boosted performance on cognitive tests, unless the conversations became competitive. At that point, the students showed no improvement.

"This study shows that simply talking to other people, the way you do when you're making friends, can provide mental benefits," lead author Oscar Ybarra, a psychologist and researcher at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan, said in a news release.

The researchers suggested that a talk with a friend before a test or an important presentation could be beneficial.
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http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=645256