Why Brain Training doesn't work

http://thestochasticman.wordpress.com/2009/02/26/why-brain-training-doesnt-work/

by kumarski • 14 years ago

10 9 14 years ago

thestochasticman.wordpress.com

gregcohn3• 14 years ago

Flawed article that ironically reproduces fallacies like those it attempts to point out.

"The Which? report found, with the help of several neuroscientists, that there was no peer-reviewed evidence to back up any of the manufacturer’s claims that they will improve performance or stave off dementia and other mental illnesses."

Neither the above quote nor the debunking of their internal studies as junk equals any proof to the contrary, that brain training -- or this product for that matter -- doesn't work.

kumarski• 14 years ago

I agree. I'm hoping people who know more about cognitive science and neuroplasticity will comment on the efficacy of brain training and lumosity.

logical42• 14 years ago

I was totally going to say the same thing.

The lack of evidence for a conclusion is not evidence that the conclusion is false. It just means that the conclusion isn't justified.

georgemcbay• 14 years ago

Drinking 5 Coca Colas a day cures all cancers.

Since you have no studies proving that I'm wrong, then I should be given the benefit of the doubt?

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. If the "Brain Training" crowd can't provide any conclusive and scientific evidence that this stuff does what they either say outright or imply strongly depending upon how "on the record" they are, I don't see why we shouldn't presume that it is all quackery until proven otherwise.

gregcohn3• 14 years ago

See my reply to lukevdp

lukevdp• 14 years ago

You are making the wrong assumption that effect/no effect are equal probability of being true.

However, the way science works is that you have to prove an affect. The null hypothesis is that brain training doesn't have any affect on "performance". To assert otherwise, you need evidence.

>>Neither the above quote nor the debunking of their internal studies as junk equals any proof to the contrary, that brain training -- or this product for that matter -- doesn't work.

The article isn't meant to be proof that it doesn't work. He is saying that there is no good evidence to believe it does.

gregcohn3• 14 years ago

>>The article isn't meant to be proof that it doesn't work. He is saying that there is no good evidence to believe it does.

The article title is Why Brain Training Doesn't Work, not There's No Proof Brain Training Works

flebber• 14 years ago

Simply put I have used Lumosity over the past year and I know it's helped me. They have updated the games to better over time.

I would say that it makes me feel more flexible mentally and I believe the choices I make under pressure/short time-frames are better.

Whilst its true as the article states a crossword helps I think this helps more.

B-Con• 14 years ago

I used Lumosity for a year and I was very sure that it helped me. Just doing daily mental exercises helped me in a way that felt similar to daily physical exercise. It think I saw improvement in the brain areas that I knew I was weaker in. My wife also did it with me, and she has definitely improved some.

Dunno if it was the "brain training" that was to credit, but simply doing the exercises seemed to be beneficial.

Why Brain Training doesn't work

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