BBC reports that brain training games don't up brain power

[Ack]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8630588.stm

Well damn, I always liked throwing that argument at people for a reason to play video games. But that hint for further research sounds interesting, and it is something I've wondered about for a while. I realize as I grow older I will someday likely being having trouble with my motor skills and cognitive abilities, but I wonder if video games will help keep them up better than other activities. Too bad it'll take a little while for that study to be performed.

[lisalover1]

Damn, you mean I played Cluefinders for nothing?
Anyway, I never thought that games actually increased knowledge outside of conventional means, but I do think that they improve response time [i.e. Brain Age].

[Devezu]

Uh oh... no control group (unless the group placed to do the menial web-browsing tasks counts as that...)

[Limewater]

Uh oh... no control group (unless the group placed to do the menial web-browsing tasks counts as that...)

From the brief description given in the article, yes, the web-browsing group was the control.