Study Claims Driving Stick Keeps Brains HealthyHondaWe're unabashed manual transmission fans here at Road & Track, and now, there's science we can use to justify our decades of fandom. Researchers at Tohoku University's Institute of Development recently published a study citing that stick-shift driving actually stimulates the prefrontal cortex in a way that using an automatic transmission does not.This pivotal research, first reported on by Japanese outlet Best Car Web before being brought to broader attention by Carscoops, was conducted by Professor Ryuta Kawashima, who focuses on neuroimaging and previously worked on Nintendo's Brain Age puzzle games. Kawashima said that the physical sequence of driving a manual transmission is particularly stimulating for the region of the brain that handles memory, attention, and decision-making. The research showed that operating a manual transmission every day is particularly beneficial—a daily, low-grade brain workout that aging brains would otherwise miss out on, helping improve cognitive function over time. The same cannot be said for operating an automatic, according to the study.toyotaEven so, manual transmissions are fading across the globe. The study cites that only one or two percent of all new vehicles sold in Japan feature a clutch pedal. Here in the United States, the manual transmission take rate sits even lower, representing 0.7 percent of new car sales in 2024. However, our friends across the pond in Europe are picking up some of the slack, with countries like Spain and Italy featuring manual transmission take rates of 41 percent and 48 percent, respectively.AdvertisementAdvertisementEither way, this study is yet another reason to buy a manual transmission car while you still can. Only around 24 new vehicles are still available with manual transmissions in the U.S. as of 2026. Alternatively, if you're still driving a late-model stick-shift car, holding onto it could be the secret to keeping your brain spry.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State