Why do people spend decades tracing their lineages? Thinking about one's ancestors provides comfort, improves one's ability to deal with challenges and actually boosts cognitive performance, new research shows.

In the research, people who had recently thought about their ancestors actually did better on cognitive tests of intelligence than people who had been made to think of other things.

Researchers from the universities of Graz, Berlin, and Munich found that thinking about one's ancestors increases our sense of control over everyday activities. So the next time someone asks you to solve a puzzle or tackle a difficult test, spend a moment thinking about your great-grandmother first!