Maybe you use the phrase “going in circles” to describe how you feel when you can’t find your keys or you’re juggling too many tasks at once. But this puzzle will have you going in circles to focus and sharpen your mind.

Word games like this can help you exercise the main parts of the brain that handle language and speech tasks. These areas are also commonly affected by dementia and help you to:

  • Articulate concepts
  • Process written and spoken language
  • Link words with ideas

But that’s not all: when you play word games like this one, you’re actually exercising your entire brain. That’s right: scientists have found that your brain essentially contains a giant “dictionary” with pockets of words that are stored in different areas. In fact, distinct parts of the brain “light up” depending on which word you’re thinking about or using at the moment.

Scientists have even been able to create an “atlas” that shows where different words are stored across the brain. So, while you’re working on this brain teaser, you never know which parts of your brain may get involved. (That depends on which words you find here.)

In this brain teaser, you’ll have to think about two different letters you’d insert into each circle to create two different eight-letter words. It’s challenging because you have to figure out whether the word goes clockwise or counterclockwise — it could be either way.

Going in Circles Brain Teaser

Did you try the “Going in Circles” word game? If so, please comment to share what words you came up with and how challenging (or easy) this game was for you. Extra points if you can find out where these two words are stored in the brain.

Do you find word games help to keep your brain sharp? If so, we’d love to know what other kinds of word games you play regularly.

Going in Circles Brain Teaser Answer