Jigsaw Puzzles and Memory
Reviewed by the Jigsaw Puzzle Universe editorial team · Based on 5 peer-reviewed studies · Updated May 2026
Jigsaw puzzles may offer a window into how different people approach and solve visuospatial memory tasks, with findings suggesting age, color, and strategy all play a role.
Research using jigsaw puzzles as a tool has found that older adults may perform better with black-and-white images, while younger adults tend to do better with colored ones [1].
Some groups, like people with Prader-Willi syndrome, may rely more on piece shape than picture content when solving puzzles, and in one study, they outperformed matched controls on achromatic puzzles [2].
Studies on sex differences suggest that girls may solve jigsaw puzzles faster than boys in childhood, but evidence in adults is limited and mixed [3].
Frequently asked questions
Do older adults do better with colored or black-and-white jigsaw puzzles?
Older adults in one study performed better with black-and-white puzzles, while younger adults did better with colored ones [1].
Do people with Prader-Willi syndrome have a special ability with jigsaw puzzles?
Some individuals with Prader-Willi syndrome show strengths in solving jigsaw puzzles, often relying on piece shape rather than picture cues [2].
Are women better than men at solving jigsaw puzzles?
Some evidence suggests girls may outperform boys in childhood, but studies in adults are limited and do not yet confirm a clear female advantage [3].
Can jigsaw puzzles help improve memory or cognitive skills?
The studies here focus on how people solve jigsaw puzzles as a measure of visuospatial ability, not on whether puzzles improve memory or cognition.
Research references
- Effects of age and type of picture on visuospatial working memory assessed with a computerized jigsaw-puzzle task. — Neuropsychology, development, and cognition. Section B, Aging, neuropsychology and cognition, 2018
- Strategies and correlates of jigsaw puzzle and visuospatial performance by persons with Prader-Willi syndrome. — American journal of mental retardation : AJMR, 2008
- Sex differences in visuospatial cognition- a female advantage in jigsaw puzzle solving. — Experimental brain research, 2024
- Emergence of Life on Earth: A Physicochemical Jigsaw Puzzle. — Journal of molecular evolution, 2017
- Surgical Notes: To Play or Not to Play. — World journal of surgery, 2019
How this article was created
We searched PubMed for peer-reviewed studies published in the last 20 years, summarized their findings, and link every claim to its original source so you can verify it. AI tools assisted with drafting; the content was reviewed by the Jigsaw Puzzle Universe editorial team for accuracy. This article is general information about jigsaw puzzles, not medical advice — consult a qualified professional for health decisions.