Claims that electronic brain training devices help to boost memory have been disputed by scientists.

Brain trainers have seen a huge surge in popularity and some, such as the Nintendo DS, have been advertised by celebrities such as Australian actress Nicole Kidman.

But experts found no scientific evidence to back up claims that brain trainers kept minds in shape.

The first trainer they examined was Nintendo's Dr Kawashima's Brain Training. The instruction booklet states "training can help consolidate memory and creativity and may hopefully help develop a resistance against decline in later life".


But the experts said: "There is no evidence that using this product will have a functional impact on your life."

The experts then looked at Mindfit, which comes with the claim: "Exercises important abilities that are known to decline in later life, such as short-term memory."

But the scientists said: "The evidence didn't show using this product was significantly better than playing computer games like Tetris."

Lumosity was the next brain trainer examined. Makers claim: "The exercises stimulate the neuroplasticity that leads to improved cognitive ability and a healthier brain."


Clinical

The experts found: "This does not mean improvements on the tasks will lead to improvements in day-to-day living. It certainly does not mean your brain will have been made healthier."

The devices were tested by high-flying academics including Dr Chris Bird, a clinical neuroscientist at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, Dr Paul Howard-Jones, senior lecturer at the Graduate School of Education, Bristol University, and Dr Adrian Owen, a senior scientist and assistant director at the Medical Research Council's Cognition.

Bur Michael Scanlon, a neuroscientist from Lumosity, defended the company's research standards.

"We'd never say Lumosity is proven to improve day-to-day living, but there is more and more evidence it does. We have conducted clinical trials to measure effectiveness of the Lumosity product," he said.

"This study showed that after training for five weeks, subjects didn't just improve at the trained tasks, but they also improved on tests of memory and attention that were not part of the training."

hnews@herald.ie

- Liam Creedon