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BRAIN TRAINING & COMPUTER GAMES
BRAIN TRAINING & COMPUTER GAMES
Research by Dr Adrian M Owen and colleagues of MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, King’s College London, and the University of Manchester and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre was published in the scientific journal Nature.
This randomised controlled trial examined the validity of using brain-training or computerised tests to improve cognitive function. Brain training is reportedly becoming a multimillion-pound industry, but is lacking in supportive evidence. The cognitive-training tasks in this study included tasks designed to improve reasoning, memory, planning, attention and visuospatial awareness.
This particular study has a number of strengths, including the large number of participants and a design that randomly distributed participants into the various groups. Using this type of study design to compare the online cognitive training tasks with no training is the most accurate way to assess whether the tasks have any effect on later test performance.
The researchers recruited 52,617 adults volunteers were randomised to experimental groups 1 or 2, or the control group. All three groups took part in four “benchmarking” tests to establish initial levels of cognitive ability. The four benchmarking tests were adapted from a collection of publicly available cognitive assessment tools designed and validated at the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. They are believed to be a sensitive test of changes in cognitive function.
Although the online cognitive training did not provide any real evidence of benefit to cognitive function in the short term over six weeks, many people would be interested in whether brain training could help stave off cognitive decline and dementia, a question not addressed by the current study. To address this question, a study would need to administer the training over a prolonged period of years and follow participants up for a long time, which is likely to be impractical.
Written by Dr Martin Harris, Doctor and Mohel for Jewish Circumcision Clinic in London Bris Mila Brit Milah.
www.circumcisionlondon.co.uk
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