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Nintendo Brain Training claims are charlatanism
A FRENCH BOFFIN is pouring scorn upon claims made by Japanese gaming giant Nintendo about the educational value of some of its 'edutainment' software.
Games like Big Brain Academy and Brain Training for the handheld Nintendo DS are touted as tools which can test and rejuvinate a user's brain function, increase blood flow to the brain and improve memory and practical intelligence
But Professor Alain Lieury from the University of Rennes has recently conducted a scientific survey of ten-year-old human lab rats which he reckons proves that the company's claims are complete and utter cobblers.
"The Nintendo DS is a technological jewel. As a game it's fine,” he told The Times, "but it is charlatanism to claim that it is a scientific test.”
Nearly 90 million DS units have been sold, many of them on the seemingly unfounded promise that using the twin-screened handheld console will help the age-addled among us keep our grey matter in tip-top condition, despite years of watching endless reruns of The Simpsons, getting three hours of sleep a night and drinking like vikings.
The prof reckons that both you and your kids will get just as much benefit from working out maths and logic problems using a 10p pencil as a £100 DS console and any amount of £30 software packages.
In fact, in some cases those using the console handed in worse results than those using traditional methods.
Go figure! µ
L'Inq
The Times
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If there is no difference in the effect, try to get any of those 90 million users to do a math or logic problem on pen and paper, then ask him if he prefers to do those on a DS. Which do you think they-ll choose? (Try getting a 12-yo kid to do math against his will)
It is not surprising that solving mathematical problems with a pencil and paper is a better mental stimulus than a computer game - I doubt that Nintendo would disagree. However, these computer games are hardly dragging kids away from their algebra. If the game is a better mental stimulus than, say, other games or television, the sorts of activities that kids are likely to be doing instead, then Nintendo's claims are valid and the game could be good for a child. I would suggest that it is the scientist who is the charlatan - he is looking for headlines by setting out to prove an opinion that he had already decided upon, and in doing so makes an irrelevant comparison.
I would like to add to the above comment, 'Bad science'. In stating that ‘in some cases’ the console produced worse results, the 'professor' (a somewhat dubious title in itself given his apparent ignorance of scientific method) is in fact also stating that in most cases, the console performs as well as, if not better than, pen and paper. I would suggest that is an even more crucial finding and that Nintendo should be thrilled by it.
if u by ur kids pencils they will use them 2 stab u in the eye!!!?!?! get them a ds insted - at least its not sharp!!!?!?!!!?!
The point of the DS and nintendeo Wii brain games is to maintain mental capacity in older adults. I cannot fathom a 10 year old having an issue with dementia. Their brains are developing at a super speed pace naturally. The amount of external influence compared to biological influence is rather minimal at best. One could show just about any novel stimuli or social situation and it would broaden a child's mental horizons.
If he was a real scientist, he would have conducted a longitudinal study on older adults, those who are 60 and above.
That would take effort though, he's apparently not into that.
Your telling me, drinking like Vikings, pilsen the pure Icelandic, leads to Wii, Wee, or Oui? N'est-say peas? in'nit? "Nicole Kidman could do just as well with a pencil as her DS stylus". Well, there's a no-brianer... Will Apple head Jobs ever come back? or do we all the dribblets on a Barak Berry? Don't teleactive shock electronic repulse me, bro!
ROFLMFAO !!!!!! nice one, sounds about right lol :O)
I smell sour French grapes. For a man knocking another scientist, Lieury's hypothesis and conclusions are sloppy. A much broader ten week Scottish study last year came to the conclusion that the Nintendo games improved math scores by more than 50%. So take your pick.
On the other hand, Nintendo isn't the best tool out there by far. Susanne Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl's study on Improving Fluid Intelligence by Training Working Memory (PNAS April 2008) recorded general increases in mental agility (fluid intelligence) and short term memory of more than 40% after 19 days of focused brain training.
I was so impressed that I contacted the research team and developed a software program using the same method so that anyone can achieve these improvements.
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