Brain Training Game Boosts Executive Functions, Working Memory and Processing Speed in the Young Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

BackgroundDo brain training games work? The beneficial effects of brain training games are expected to transfer to other cognitive functions. Yet in all honesty, beneficial transfer effects of the commercial brain training games in young adults have little scientific basis. Here we investigated the impact of the brain training game (Brain Age) on a wide range of cognitive functions in young adults.MethodsWe conducted a double-blind (de facto masking) randomized controlled trial using a popular brain training game (Brain Age) and a popular puzzle game (Tetris). Thirty-two volunteers were recruited through an advertisement in the local newspaper and randomly assigned to either of two game groups (Brain Age, Tetris). Participants in both the Brain Age and the Tetris groups played their game for about 15 minutes per day, at least 5 days per week, for 4 weeks. Measures of the cognitive functions were conducted before and after training. Measures of the cognitive functions fell into eight categories (fluid intelligence, executive function, working memory, short-term memory, attention, processing speed, visual ability, and reading ability).Results and DiscussionOur results showed that commercial brain training game improves executive functions, working memory, and processing speed in young adults. Moreover, the popular puzzle game can engender improvement attention and visuo-spatial ability compared to playing the brain training game. The present study showed the scientific evidence which the brain training game had the beneficial effects on cognitive functions (executive functions, working memory and processing speed) in the healthy young adults.ConclusionsOur results do not indicate that everyone should play brain training games. However, the commercial brain training game might be a simple and convenient means to improve some cognitive functions. We believe that our findings are highly relevant to applications in educational and clinical fields.Trial RegistrationUMIN Clinical Trial Registry 000005618.

On the validity and generality of transfer effects in cognitive training research

“…Placebo-controlled designs have been proposed to minimize the effects of systematic biases like expectancy and motivation (Boot et al, 2011;2013;Klingberg, 2010;Shipstead et al, 2012). Based on the classical 'Hawthorne Effect', Shipstead and colleagues (2012) argue, for example, that differences in expectations between trained and untrained participants may lead to differences in performance.…”

“…We summarized possible strategies to strengthen the assumption that transfer effects actually represent effects at the level of the targeted construct. These calls for analyses of training-related gain at the latent level Schmiedek et al, 2010;Shipstead et al, 2010; and the corresponding investigations of measurement invariance, and for adequate placebo conditions (Boot et al, 2011;2013;Redick et al, 2013;Shipstead et al, 2012), have been voiced before. Here, we review the recent training literature, investigating if these calls have been heard and if respective strategies have been implemented in practice.…”

“…This approach is preferable over the often used non-adaptive placebo design for three reasons (see also Boot et al, 2011;2013;Shipstead et al, 2010;Sternberg, 2008): (1) Treatment and placebo conditions may be more comparable in terms of motivation because both conditions remain challenging over the Among the 82 studies, only one study explicitly applied a study design implementing an active control condition selected based on expected relationships with the treatment condition and the transfer condition (Redick et al, 2013). Several other studies had similar designs, however.…”

Quadrupedal movement training improves markers of cognition and joint repositioning

“…Rhodes, 2004). However, a recent study by Nouchi, et al (2013) that investigated the effects of brain training games on a variety of cognitive measures found significant improvements in the WCST when pre-training performance was comparable to the current CG group (reported percentage of perseverative errors was 13.69% and 14.60% in two brain training groups). It may therefore be argued that the QDP training can have a beneficial impact on executive function regardless of initial cognitive ability.…”

Improving Athlete Mental Training Engagement Using Smartphone Phone Technology

“…Mental skills training techniques are used to develop and improve a variety of naturally occurring psychological abilities, which include attention and emotional arousal [5]. Similarly, improving essential cognitive abilities associated with peak mental functioning such as executive functioning, processing speed, and working memory have also demonstrated a significant improvement in cognitive abilities [6] that can be applied to elite athletes.…”