Forget ‘Brain Training’ games – do a crossword instead
By Dave Parrack
Brain trainers such as Dr Kawishima’s Brain Training, Mindfit, and Lumosity have become big business over the past few years. But new research suggests that they don’t actually do anything special, and in fact, completing a crossword is just as beneficial to the health of your brain.
Most people will have heard of the brain trainers available on the Nintendo DS. The DS is the biggest-selling console currently on the market, and is popular all around the world. One of the biggest-selling genre of games available on it is brain trainers, which offer entertainment with a healthy twist.
There are also more serious brain trainers on the market such as Mindfit for the PC, and the Lumosity online training system which is available for a monthly fee. The idea of all of these products is to offer people the chance to keep their brain healthy, improve their IQ, and stave off illnesses such as dementia.
There has been research undertaken which shows these brain trainers can help performance. School kids in Scotland were found to have improved maths skills after using Dr Kawashima’s More Brain Training every day. But no everyone agrees with the usefulness of these products.
According to BBC News, Which? had three experts test some of these products to validate or dismiss the claims they are beneficial to people’s health. The experts, all scientists, concluded that the evidence for these claims was “weak” or in some cases, “non-existent.”
The brain trainers do increase blood flow to the frontal cortex region of the brain but the experts suggested that chatting to friends or even surfing the Web would produce similar results. Completing a crossword or Sodoku would also be just as beneficial, as would playing games such as Tetris.
I’ve used a couple of these brain trainers and am disappointed to hear they aren’t actually doing any real good. But being a gamer anyway, I can take solace in the fact that my hobby in itself is keeping my brain sharp, whether I’m playing Brain Training or Killzone 2.
As is usually the case with these fads, their lifespans are limited. I’m a firm believer that a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a good social life are the only real things we need to worry about. I guess I should start following that advice then.
Related:
Entry was posted
on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
under
Read more entries by Dave Parrack.
Stumble It!
February 27th, 2009
The problem with this kind of report is that it ignores more considered science and could put people off the idea of brain training. A ten week Scottish study last year came to the conclusion that the Nintendo games improve math scores by more than 50%.
For the best brain training out there, Susanne Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl’s study on Improving Fluid Intelligence by Training Working Memory (PNAS April 2008) designed a brain exercise that increased mental agility (fluid intelligence) and short term memory by more than 40% in just 19 days.
I was so impressed that I contacted the research team and developed a software program using the same method so that anyone can achieve these improvements at home.
Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro
Martin
http://www.mindsparke.com
Effective, Affordable Brain Training Software
May 31st, 2009
Hello All,
I agree with Martin. I think it is important to look at the research, and sort the brain fitness information from the marketing chaff. An editor’s job is to get some readers for his publication, not study and understand the research, so their headlines will be a bit sensational. I am using several of the programs, including Mind Sparke, which is excellent for my attention span and focus. It has not turned me into a genius, however, it has helped me with neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Brain training is part of my strategy to age effectively, not all of it, so keep gaming, tech blorge, and read the headlines with a bit of discernment. Mike Logan
July 29th, 2009
I really appreciate your views on brain games Dave. Currently, there are innumerable brain games specially designed for improving the brain. But all these brain games are nothing more than solving the crossword puzzles. Brain cannot be nourished alone by brain games or any other brain improvement methods. It requires rich nutrition, enriched with trace elements and ballast materials to improve the brain. So taking rich brain diets is the best and natural way to develop and maintain a healthy brain. Along with brain diets regular physical exercise can enhance one’s concentration and memory.