"Brain games" can be a lot of fun. However, contrary to popular belief, they are unlikely to make you smarter.
All of these games offer - implicitly or explicitly - that brain training, also known as cognitive training, may help you become more intelligent and have a better life. But experts say there is no substantial scientific evidence to back up this promise.
LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 13: Gamers compete in PC gaming at the 'Nvidia' booth during the Electronic Entertainment Expo E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 13, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.
Experts Found No Link Between Brain Games and Intelligence
As part of their research, Bobby Stojanoski, a cognitive neuroscientist at Western University in Ontario, and his colleagues conducted an exercise, which is likely the most rigorous evaluation of these programs. The researchers gathered a diverse group of over 1,000 people who were dedicated to these brain training games. They compared them to 7,500 people who did not participate in any of the exercises.
The authors noted that cognition was tested using numerous measures that measure attention, reasoning, working memory, and planning in the abstract of the publication titled "Brain Training Habits Are Not Associated With Generalized Benefits to Cognition: An Online Study of Over 1,000 'Brain Trainers.'"
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"We found no association between any measure of cognitive functioning and whether participants were currently "brain training" or not, even for the most committed brain trainers," researchers said per NDTV report.
Not only that, but the duration of a human's commitment to these brain-training programs had no link with any cognitive performance metric, according to the study.
Researchers said the outcome was consistent independent of participant age, brain training program employed, or whether participants expected brain training to succeed. They said the study's findings represent a substantial challenge for "brain training" programs that claim to increase overall cognitive functioning in the general public.
Some brain-game developers disputed the study's conclusions, arguing that the findings didn't apply to their products. Professor of psychology from the University of Illinois Art Kramer, who is not part of the study, told Lifehacker that there is very little evidence that the abilities learned in these games can be applied in the real world.
How To Exercise Your Mind Without Depending on Brain Games
The bottom line is that commercial brain games do not appear to boost overall cognitive abilities. Isn't it better to engage in brain training in the hopes, if not the expectation, that scientists may one day discover its far-reaching benefits? No, that is not the case. Scientists have previously found activities that boost cognitive performance. The time you spend on brain training is time you could be doing anything else.
Lifehacker said regular mental exercise, for starters, may help you live longer. Physical exercise is an exceptionally effective technique to exercise your mind, another Lifehacker report claims. It kills two birds with one stone if you're really seeking some brain-boosting advantages.
RELATED ARTICLE: 5-Evidence Based Exercises To Improve Memory and Focus
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