Washington, Feb 16 (ANI): Social interaction may help improve an individuals mental functioning, says a new study.

The study, led by Oscar Ybarra from University of Michigan, suggests that through socializing people can reap cognitive benefits.

In a series of related studies, the researchers tested the participants level of cognitive functioning, comparing it to the frequency of participants social interactions.

The analysis revealed that people who engaged in social interaction displayed higher levels of cognitive performance than the control group. Social interaction aided intellectual performance.

Social interaction helps to exercise peoples minds. People reap cognitive benefits from socializing, the researchers said.

They speculate that social interaction exercises cognitive processes that are measured on intellectual tasks.

It is possible that as people engage socially and mentally with others, they receive relatively immediate cognitive boosts, they concluded.

The study is published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by SAGE. (ANI)