Still no evidence that exergames improve cognitive ability: A commentary on Stanmore et al. (2017)

Sala, Giovanni; Tatlidil, K. Semir; Gobet, Fernand

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.11.015

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…For instance, WM training does not enhance children's domain-general cognitive skills or academic achievement (Aksayli, Sala, & Gobet, 2019;Melby-Lervåg et al, 2016;Sala & Gobet, 2020). The same applies to action and nonaction videogame training and brain training (Duyck & Op de Beeck, 2019;Kassai, Futo, Demetrovics, & Takacs, 2019;Libertus et al, 2017;Lintern & Boot, 2019;Sala et al, 2019a;Sala, Tatlidil, & Gobet, 2018, 2019bSimons et al, 2016).…”

Section: Beyond Meta-analytic Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive and academic benefits of music training with children: A multilevel meta-analysis

2020

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Music training has repeatedly been claimed to positively impact children's cognitive skills and academic achievement (literacy and mathematics). This claim relies on the assumption that engaging in intellectually demanding activities fosters particular domain-general cognitive skills, or even general intelligence. The present meta-analytic review (N = 6,984, k = 254, m = 54) shows that this belief is incorrect. Once the quality of study design is controlled for, the overall effect of music training programs is null (g ≈ 0) and highly consistent across studies (τ 2 ≈ 0). Results of Bayesian analyses employing distributional assumptions (informative priors) derived from previous research in cognitive training corroborate these conclusions. Small statistically significant overall effects are obtained only in those studies implementing no random allocation of participants and employing non-active controls (g ≈ 0.200, p < .001). Interestingly, music training is ineffective regardless of the type of outcome measure (e.g., verbal, non-verbal, speed-related, etc.), participants' age, and duration of training. Furthermore, we note that, beyond metaanalysis of experimental studies, a considerable amount of cross-sectional evidence indicates that engagement in music has no impact on people's non-music cognitive skills or academic achievement. We conclude that researchers' optimism about the benefits of music training is empirically unjustified and stems from misinterpretation of the empirical data and, possibly, confirmation bias.

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Section: Beyond Meta-analytic Evidencementioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive and academic benefits of music training with children: A multilevel meta-analysis

2020

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“…(Anderson-Hanley et al, 2012;Maillot et al, 2012;Barcelos et al, 2015;Eggenberger et al, 2015;Schättin et al, 2016;Ballesteros et al, 2018)], controversial findings have also been reported as exergames were found to be effective [e.g. (Stanmore et al, 2017)], ineffective (Ordnung et al, 2017;Sala et al, 2019), or unclear (Stojan and Voelcker-Rehage, 2019), in comparison with conventional interventions. Several reasons may explain these inconsistencies.…”

Section: Are Exergames Effective For Enhancing Brain Plasticity and Cognition?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Exergames Be Improved to Better Enhance Behavioral Adaptability in Older Adults? An Ecological Dynamics Perspective

Temprado

2021

Front. Aging Neurosci.

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Finding effective training solutions to attenuate the alterations of behavior and cognition in the growing number of older adults is an important challenge for Science and Society. By offering 3D computer-simulated environments to combine perceptual-motor and cognitive exercise, exergames are promising in this respect. However, a careful analysis of meta-analytic reviews suggests that they failed to be more effective than conventional motor-cognitive training. We analyzed the reasons for this situation, and we proposed new directions to design new, conceptually grounded, exergames. Consistent with the evolutionary neuroscience approach, we contend that new solutions should better combine high level of metabolic activity with (neuro)muscular, physical, perceptual-motor, and cognitive stimulations. According to the Ecological Dynamics rationale, we assume that new exergames should act at the agent–environment scale to allow individuals to explore, discover, and adapt to immersive and informationally rich environments that should include cognitively challenging tasks, while being representative of daily living situations.

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“…Although exergames do not appear to outperform conventional physical training in terms of cognitive effects [30], they may be a motivating vector to promote adherence to physical exercise. Recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews indicated that playing exergames can benefit executive function, attention and visuospatial processing in HOA and MCI [30,31], although the results of the former have been challenged [32]. In an RCT in 78 individuals with MCI, playing sports video games on the Nintendo Wii for 30 min three times a week over 10 weeks yielded more significant effects in the digit span (working memory) and also health-related quality of life than the same dose of the CoTras CCT program [33 & ].…”

Section: Exergamesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serious video games and virtual reality for prevention and neurorehabilitation of cognitive decline because of aging and neurodegeneration

Sokolov

Collignon

Bieler-Aeschlimann

2020

Current Opinion in Neurology

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Purpose of reviewCognitive decline because of aging and neurodegeneration has become increasingly prevalent. This calls for the implementation of efficacious, motivating, standardized and widely available cognitive interventions for the elderly. In this context, serious video games and virtual reality may represent promising approaches. Here, we review recent research on their potential for cognitive prevention and neurorehabilitation of agerelated cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Recent findingsThe majority of currently available data in this evolving domain lacks the methodological quality to draw reliable conclusions on the potential of novel technology for cognitive training in older people. However, single well designed randomized controlled trials have reported promising effects of cognitive interventions involving serious video games and virtual reality. The cognitive benefits of exergames promoting physical exercise with and without combined cognitive training remain unclear.

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Still no evidence that exergames improve cognitive ability: A commentary on Stanmore et al. (2017)

Cited by 15 publications

References 5 publications

Cognitive and academic benefits of music training with children: A multilevel meta-analysis

Cognitive and academic benefits of music training with children: A multilevel meta-analysis

Can Exergames Be Improved to Better Enhance Behavioral Adaptability in Older Adults? An Ecological Dynamics Perspective

Serious video games and virtual reality for prevention and neurorehabilitation of cognitive decline because of aging and neurodegeneration

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