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The promise of brain-changing games is hard to resist. Who doesn’t want to improve memory and thinking and have fun doing it? Especially as you grow older? That’s just what products like Lumosity, the computer-based brain training program, aim—and claim—to do. The games target skills like working memory and attention, and they get more difficult as you get better at them.
But a new, rigorous study published this week in The Journal of Neuroscience found that such brain-training programs had no discernible effect on the brain, on cognitive performance, or anything else.
The study was a collaboration between the laboratories of neuroscientists Joseph Kable and Caryn Lerman, both at the University of Pennsylvania. Kable studies decision-making and Lerman is an expert in helping people quit smoking. They wanted to see if brain-changing games could improve cognitive control and help people make better choices about risky behavior, and maybe even help battle addictions like smoking.
Like most people, the scientists were also intrigued by the possibilities of changing the brain. “If there are things you can do that would enhance your cognitive abilities, it’s an exciting idea,” says Kable. “We want to know whether it works or not.”
Because of their focus on decision making, Kable and Lerman were interested in games that target executive function, the umbrella term for capacities controlled by the prefrontal cortex that help us delay gratification, plan for the future, and do other cognitively difficult things.
“It’s a set of brain regions that basically seem to be engaged whenever tasks are hard,” says Kable. One of the important questions about brain training is whether improving at the skills needed to master a particular game has any effect on other cognitive skills. That is a principle called “transfer.” Proponents of cognitive video games believe in transfer. Kable and Lerman reasoned that if brain-changing games increased activity in executive function areas or made those networks more efficient, people might also show signs of making better choices.
Their randomized controlled trial (the gold standard for research) included 128 young adults, which is quite a bit more than previous studies. Some participants trained with Lumosity (with the company’s cooperation) for 10 weeks. A control group played a variety of similarly stimulating online video games that aren’t aimed at improving thinking and memory. In addition to studying choice behavior, the researchers also looked for signs of basic improvement in cognitive performance. And for the first time in a study of brain-changing games, they included neural imaging to look at activity in relevant areas of the brains before and after training.
The results were disappointing. There was no effect on brain activity, no effect on cognitive performance, and no effect on decision-making. (The participants who trained with Lumosity did improve on the cognitive assessment, but so did the control group and so did a group who played no games whatsoever. In other words, it wasn’t the game that was having an effect. Kable attributes the gains to the fact that everyone had taken the test once before.)
Granted, this is just one study. As the folks at Lumosity stated after the study was published, they never claimed their games would help with making better choices and it’s difficult to make grand claims from one piece of research. In 2016, however, the company behind Lumosity was fined $2 million for deceptive advertising.
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It’s possible that brain-changing games will still prove effective for specific groups, like older adults at risk of cognitive decline, or people recovering from a stroke. Or they could be more helpful in combination with other forms of stimulation—a question Lerman would still like to explore. And other researchers, such as Daphne Bavelier of the University of Geneva, have found that a different sort of game—those known as first-person shooter games—do seem to show transfer. (I have written about their research here.)
Kable, however, is moving on. “There are other ways of helping people make healthy choices,” he says. The hope with cognitive training was that you could improve people’s executive function so that can stay strong when they’re faced with temptation or hard choices. Now he’s exploring a different possibility: “Are there ways of having people set up their lives such that there isn’t a need to power through it? You arrange things so that your habits are pointed in the direction that you want to be in and you don’t have to fight temptation or make difficult decisions. That’s the long-term direction I’ve been thinking about.”
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If he finds some answers, I’ll let you know.
FAQs
So far, studies have been mixed, with half finding positive results, the other half finding none. "Because the training methods in all of this research are different, it's hard to draw conclusions," Seitz said. One factor that can diminish the efficacy of these games is individual differences among us.
Do brain training games actually work? ›
While brain-training apps may provide a boost, there's no substantial evidence that they can prevent or slow cognitive decline. They also don't seem to help people with cognitive decline that has progressed to dementia.
Is the brain power game legit? ›
Unfortunately, there's just no evidence to support that claim.” There are, however, other things you can do to stay mentally agile. “Sleep better, exercise regularly, eat better, education is great — that's the sort of thing we should be focused on,” says the lead author.
Do brain games make a difference? ›
Evidence For Brain Training Games
Another study published in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences found that playing brain training games improved cognitive function and reduced depressive symptoms in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
Does brain age DS actually work? ›
The first two completed a seven-week memory course on a Nintendo DS, the third did puzzles with pencils and paper, and the fourth went to school as normal. Researchers found that children playing Brain Age failed to show any significant improvement in memory tests.
Are brain games legit? ›
According to Seitz, there's no question that people do get better at these games. The real question, though, is whether playing these games are just making us better at the specific game or actually helping us improve real-world tasks that involve memory, attention, and other aspects of higher cognition.
What game is best for your brain? ›
12 best brain games for adults
- Brainwell. ...
- Chess. ...
- Cognifit. ...
- SET. ...
- Scrabble. ...
- Trivia. ...
- Portal. ...
- Elevate. Elevate is a brain training app that began as an SAT and language learning service, which explains its focus on developing practical soft and hard skills.
Peak is another app-only option (available for iOS and Android) that provides brain games to help you work on focus, memory, problem-solving, mental agility, and more cognitive functions. If you're a competitive person, you might be motivated by seeing how you perform against other users.
Does Lumosity actually do anything? ›
There was no effect on brain activity, no effect on cognitive performance, and no effect on decision-making. (The participants who trained with Lumosity did improve on the cognitive assessment, but so did the control group and so did a group who played no games whatsoever.
What is the game that increases brain power? ›
Jigsaw puzzles are great because they exercise both the left and right sides of your brain at once. Puzzles require both logic, intuition, and creativity, and it's easy to get lost for hours working on them.
Exercising the mind – Brain games stimulate different brain memory functions in seniors, such as executive function and processing speed. Giving a feeling of control – Brain exercises can help seniors get and maintain a positive outlook. Learning and mastering a new game gives these seniors a sense of accomplishment.
Can you improve your memory with brain games? ›
While some brain games claim to enhance memory, science has yet to offer definitive proof that they actually work. Despite the lack of scientific evidence, a survey conducted by AARP found that nearly two out of three people 50 and older believe that playing online brain games can help maintain or improve brain health.
Does Brain Gym really work? ›
There is no evidence using strict scientific method that brain gym exercises have any benefit. While Brain Gym International claims that this program claims to improve learning, studies have not found any clear evidence for this.
Is there a brain supplement that actually works? ›
B vitamins like B6, B12, and B9 (folic acid) all play a role in brain health. But unless you're low on them or pregnant (folic acid is a must to prevent birth defects), a supplement is unlikely to help. If you're at high risk for Alzheimer's, ask your doctor.
At what age is your brain most effective? ›
At what age is your brain the sharpest? Researchers have found that while some mental abilities tend to peak earlier in life, many don't reach their highest point until around age 40 or later.
Can the brain reverse aging? ›
Our minds and bodies inevitably change with age. Though reversing the aging process is currently impossible, taking care of your physical health can help slow the process. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and low in red meat and sugar, can nourish your brain and enhance your prospects for a healthier life.
Does Brain Gym actually work? ›
Scientific Research
There is no evidence using strict scientific method that brain gym exercises have any benefit. While Brain Gym International claims that this program claims to improve learning, studies have not found any clear evidence for this.
Are mind games effective? ›
Mind games: Boost your brain function
Remembering old things and learning new things can become a challenge as we age. However, a growing body of scientific and clinical evidence shows that physical and mental activity creates new brain cells, improves cognitive functioning, and may forestall the onset of dementia.
Does BrainHQ really work? ›
“Gold standard” memory assessments—tests that are widely known to and accepted by doctors—showed that the BrainHQ exercises genuinely improve memory overall.
Can playing games improve brain function? ›
The good news is that some of these changes in the brain caused by video games may help improve our cognitive functions. Under the right conditions, video games provide an ideal environment that allows players to exercise various cognitive functions and promote brain plasticity [1].
