Brain training does not make you smarter

In the four weeks before they practice the spirit of the car, or a control task and after, Gazzaley and his colleagues to the elderly test memory, attention and other cognitive abilities, to assess training migration – in other words, look at whether there is any play nerve racing benefits. Not surprisingly, people in the nervous racing game performance better. In fact, after training, the elderly in this game can progress to the level of 20-year-olds. Moreover, the researchers claim that the car can ease nerves play aging on specific cognitive functions. But the study also has some problems. Which leads to a commentary article in at least 19 articles and the experimental results and methods related. And the placebo group, the training group before and after the test 11 only three migration test showed more improved. Moreover, the sample size is small, means that even if these effects can not be repeated cues, and experiment, nearly a quarter of the people have been removed from the statistical analysis. Eventually, the car can not prove nerve training so that people can better cope with real-life tasks. Despite these concerns investigative support pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Shire’s, Gazzaley and his colleagues have been applying for a license based on neural FDA new racing game. Gazzaley explained in a speech that the goal of this game is to “become the world’s first video game specific.”

The bottom line is, there is no conclusive evidence that the mental game can improve commercial general cognitive ability. However, with the wish to brain training is not better? If not meet expectations, and perhaps one day scientists will find that it has far-reaching benefits? The answer is no. Scientists have confirmed that improve cognitive function activities, as well as the time spent on mental training, you can use on other things. For example, physical exercise. In a series of studies, the University of Illinois psychologist Arthur Kramer has been convincingly clarified, aerobic exercise to improve cognitive function. Other activities are simple to learn new things. Fluid intelligence is difficult to change, but the wisdom of the “crystallization” – a person’s knowledge and skills – can be changed. Learn how to play the piano or make a new dish, you can increase your wisdom. Of course, mental training is not free. According to a conjecture, 2014, people will spend $ 1.3 billion on mental training.

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