• Question: Do you think the concept of 'brain training' games works and improves the brain's abilities?

    Asked by kianared13 to Damien, Rachael, Simon, Suzi, Tim on 23 Jun 2011. This question was also asked by mkershaw, alexr.
    • Photo: Suzi Gage

      Suzi Gage answered on 21 Jun 2011:

      Hi @kianared13
      I don’t think there’s any evidence that these brain training games actually make any difference to your brain. Someone else asked this question – have a look at that answer
      http://ias.im/58.2330

      Let me know if you want more info!

    • Photo: Tim Fosker

      Tim Fosker answered on 23 Jun 2011:

      Hi @kianared13 and @mkershaw

      Quite a few scientists are actually working on this now. The issue is always how we measure ‘improvement’.

      Some studies measure ‘improvement’ as a change in brain activity, but they don’t show that it actually helps people do something better. Other studies show that training on a game helps you ‘improve’ on that game, but we know that practice helps you improve on anything.

      What we really want when we say ‘improvement’ is a study that shows playing on a brain training game ‘improves’ your ability to do something completely different. There isn’t really strong evidence for this yet, but scientists are working on it. I myself have been working on a game with sounds to try and help children learn to read.

      Most of all brain training games don’t seem to do any harm, because they do help you practice skills and they make practicing fun so that you can learn things without getting bored and giving up.

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