I saw news items related to this yesterday, and was surprised that it counted as "news" or that anyone could get it published as "research." Certainly it was widely known among cognitive psychologists that these kinds of packages, although perhaps mildly entertaining, were useless in terms of improving general cognitive function back in the early 1990s when I was a grad student. Didn't everyone (who isn't also taken in by homeopathy and chiropractic) know?
Chris -- Christopher D. Green Department of Psychology York University Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 Canada 416-736-2100 ex. 66164 [email protected] http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ ========================== Allen Esterson wrote: > ?From the current issue of Nature: > > Putting brain training to the test > > ‘Brain training’, or the goal of improved cognitive function through > the regular use of computerized tests, is a multimillionpound > industry[1], yet in our view scientific evidence to support its > efficacy is lacking. Modest effects have been reported in some studies > of older individuals[2,3] and preschool children[4], and video-game > players outperform non-players on some tests of visual attention[5]. > However, the widely held belief that commercially available > computerized brain-training programs improve general cognitive function > in the wider population in our opinion lacks empirical support. > > http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vnfv/ncurrent/pdf/nature09042.pdf > > Allen Esterson > Former lecturer, Science Department > Southwark College, London > [email protected] > http://www.esterson.org > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13132.a868d710aa4ef67a68807ce4fe8bd0da&n=T&l=tips&o=2126 > or send a blank email to > leave-2126-13132.a868d710aa4ef67a68807ce4fe8bd...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > > --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=2129 or send a blank email to leave-2129-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
