What Research Says About Abacus and Your Childs Mental Wellbeing

Last updated: 23 September 2026

The benefits of an Abacus Class on a child's brain development have been known for years. But did you know that Abacus can help in improving mental health?

Scientific research suggests that Abacus Training can positively impact its user's brain. Some researchers have even suggested that younger brains may benefit the most from training in an Abacus Class.

Scientific Findings Support Abacus Training 

Today, a claim stating that "Abacus training improves mental health" still raises many questions and doubts.

Let's understand this with a step back into history. The use of the Abacus started centuries ago. For the past 20 years the scientific community in different parts of the world has been keen to evaluate the effects of mental arithmetic and abacus training on mental health and brain functions.

Their findings have been remarkable. Let us take a look at them.

Research On The Effects Of Mental Arithmetic On The Brain

Various studies including neuroimaging done on children from China to Spain, researchers from across the world commonly observed that  abacus mental arithmetic training positively impacts people's brain activity and thinking skills – from children of young age to older adults.

In 2013, a group of researchers used neuroimaging technology to measure 17 children trained in abacus mental math. The study was conducted at Zhejiang University in China. The indications pointed towards  higher brain activation and better integration between multiple brain networks in abacus-trained children.

In another study in the year 2016, researchers from Spain conducted a study to assess and analyze the applicability of using abacus arithmetic on a small group of elderly patients. The participants reported a high level of satisfaction.

What Do These Studies Suggest?

1) These two studies pointed to greater stimulation of brain activity, enhanced connectivity in the brain and improved functioning of the brain networks, with the introduction of abacus training in the routine of ordinary people.

What makes these two studies particularly interesting and noteworthy is that abacus classes can support healthy brain activity and engagement in both children and the elderly.

2) Research has shown that children exposed to abacus mental math exercises use visual imagery, often linked with the right brain, as a memory bank to picture and retrieve numbers; on the other hand, students who are not exposed to this kind of training usually rely mostly on counting and rote steps to solve a problem.

Most of us lean on one style of thinking more than the other. Abacus training encourages kids to use visual and logical thinking together, which helps both sides of the brain work as a team.

The findings also show a high level of engagement and satisfaction in users regardless of age. This is encouraging evidence of the positive effects of Abacus Training.

3) We should all know that good mental health helps children cope better with everyday challenges. Nowadays the reports of our children having to deal with school stress, peer pressure, etc. are on the increase.

How well they deal with these daily pressures depends a great deal on  their mental strength.

Hence, it is time for us to focus on their mental health along with their physical fitness. Besides good food and nutrition, the kids benefit from mental exercises like Abacus to keep their minds active. In the studies above, the elderly participants responded well to abacus training, and children, whose brains are still developing, may benefit even more.

A Calmer After-School Routine With Abacus

Many parents tell us that evenings are when stress quietly builds up: rushed homework, endless scrolling and very little real downtime. You don't have to ban screens. A simple routine that balances screen time with focused, hands-on activities like abacus practice can make evenings calmer. For more practical ideas, read our guide to a digital detox for young minds.

4) Abacus training keeps the brain actively engaged, and many children find this focused, step-by-step activity calming. The more the child enjoys using the Abacus, the happier and more relaxed they tend to feel during practice. The children use their hands and fingers to move the beads of the Abacus. This movement of the beads helps the child in developing their fine motor skills.

We at Mastermind suggest to the parents that; although the Abacus is a skill that can be acquired at any age, the most benefits are seen when a kid begins their abacus class between the age of 6 to 14 years, which are the early years of education. The reason behind this advice is that the kid's brain is still developing rapidly during these school years. Also, children possess the acquired motor skills during this age to manipulate the Abacus bead movements confidently. For 5-year-olds, Mastermind offers a separate offline programme, Lingo Bingo for children aged 5 to 6.

While a person only uses their dominant hand to perform any task. Abacus class teaches the child to use both hands, as the calculation in Abacus is correctly performed only by using both hands simultaneously. Using both hands to move the beads of the Abacus stimulates both sides of the brain. This is how abacus class enhances brain activity and supports good mental health.

Please note: Abacus is an educational activity, not a therapy; persistent difficulties should be assessed by a qualified professional.

Mastermind Abacus has been providing quality Abacus learning since 2005.

Abacus Math has made it easy to calculate basic mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. The Abacus tool enhances mental operations that ease solving math problems from the very basic to the most complex problems. You can explore the wider benefits of abacus training for children in detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

But Mastermind also focuses on the science behind Abacus. We know that Abacus is not just a skill but an investment for your child's bright future. Abacus class not only helps fight the fear of math but also lays a strong academic foundation for your kid while supporting their mental well-being. Mastermind Abacus is a pioneer Abacus Company, providing Abacus Education since 2005. It has a global presence in 17 countries with 1,000+ Abacus centres.

Moreover, Mastermind Abacus offers both Offline and Online Abacus Classes  to its students.

For a better understanding book a free demo today!!

    
Also Read: Abacus Class and Its Future Advantages For Kids