http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2017/07/11/brain-training-games-dont-actually-train-brain-study-says/
Brain training computer games do not make you cleverer, according to scientists. A new study suggests that commercial brain training computer games have no effect on cognitive function.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that they also have no effect on decision-making.
They hoped commercial brain training regimes could reduce individuals' propensity to make risky or impulsive choices.
Dr Lerman's prior work had shown that engagement of brain circuits involved in self-control predicts whether people can refrain from smoking.
Dr Kable said: "Our motivation was that there are enough hints in the literature that cognitive training deserved a real, rigorous, full-scale test.
"Especially given the addiction angle, we're looking for things that will help people make the changes in their lives that they want to make, one of which is being more future-oriented."
The researchers knew that people with stronger cognitive abilities tend to make less impulsive decisions.
They also knew that this behaviour is likely mediated by a set of brain structures in the dorsolateral prefrontal area of the brain that have been associated with performance on the executive function tasks, like the ones in the Lumosity battery.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found that they also have no effect on decision-making.
Dr Joseph Kable, the
Baird Term associate professor in the department of Psychology in the
School of Arts & Sciences, and Dr Caryn Lerman, the vice dean for
Strategic Initiatives in the Perelman School of Medicine, led the study
and their results were published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
Dr Lerman's prior work had shown that engagement of brain circuits involved in self-control predicts whether people can refrain from smoking.
Dr Kable said: "Our motivation was that there are enough hints in the literature that cognitive training deserved a real, rigorous, full-scale test.
"Especially given the addiction angle, we're looking for things that will help people make the changes in their lives that they want to make, one of which is being more future-oriented."
The researchers knew that people with stronger cognitive abilities tend to make less impulsive decisions.
They also knew that this behaviour is likely mediated by a set of brain structures in the dorsolateral prefrontal area of the brain that have been associated with performance on the executive function tasks, like the ones in the Lumosity battery.
He
said: "The logic would be that if you can train cognitive abilities and
change activity in these brain structures then that may change your
likelihood of impulsive behaviour."
The researchers recruited two groups, each with 64 healthy young adults.
One group was asked to follow a brain training regimen, performing the executive function games for 30 minutes a day, five days a week for ten weeks.
The other group followed the same schedule but played online video games instead.
Both groups were told that the study was investigating whether playing online video games improves cognition and changes one's decision-making.
The researchers had two assessments of decision-making that participants completed before and after the training regimen.
To assess impulsive decision-making, the participants were asked to choose between smaller rewards now and larger rewards later.
Totest risky decision-making, they were asked to choose between larger rewards at a lower probability versus smaller rewards at a higher probability.
The researchers found that the training didn't induce any changes in brain activity or decision-making during these tasks.
The participants were also asked to complete a series of cognitive tests that were not part of the training to see if the program had any effect on their general cognitive abilities.
While both groups showed improvement, the researchers found that commercial brain training didn't lead to any more improvement than online video games.
Dr Mary Falcone, study co-author, said: "Habitual behaviours such as tobacco use and overeating contribute to preventable deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other public health problems."
One group was asked to follow a brain training regimen, performing the executive function games for 30 minutes a day, five days a week for ten weeks.
The other group followed the same schedule but played online video games instead.
Both groups were told that the study was investigating whether playing online video games improves cognition and changes one's decision-making.
The researchers had two assessments of decision-making that participants completed before and after the training regimen.
To assess impulsive decision-making, the participants were asked to choose between smaller rewards now and larger rewards later.
Totest risky decision-making, they were asked to choose between larger rewards at a lower probability versus smaller rewards at a higher probability.
The researchers found that the training didn't induce any changes in brain activity or decision-making during these tasks.
The participants were also asked to complete a series of cognitive tests that were not part of the training to see if the program had any effect on their general cognitive abilities.
While both groups showed improvement, the researchers found that commercial brain training didn't lead to any more improvement than online video games.
Dr Mary Falcone, study co-author, said: "Habitual behaviours such as tobacco use and overeating contribute to preventable deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease and other public health problems."
Dr
Lerman said: "As currently available behavioural and medical treatments
for these habitual behaviours are ineffective for most people, there is
a critical need to develop innovative approaches to behaviour change.
"Changing the brain to change behaviour is the approach that we are taking."
"Changing the brain to change behaviour is the approach that we are taking."
No comments:
Post a Comment