Check out this answer from Consensus:
While brain training games show promise in improving certain cognitive functions, particularly in older adults and specific cognitive domains, their overall efficacy remains uncertain. The benefits appear to be task-specific, with limited transfer to untrained tasks. More rigorous and well-designed studies are needed to provide definitive conclusions about the real-world benefits of brain training games. Until then, these games can be considered a supplementary intervention for cognitive enhancement, but they should not be relied upon as a sole method for preventing cognitive decline.
The efficacy of brain training games has been a topic of considerable debate within the scientific community. While some studies suggest that these games can enhance certain cognitive functions, others argue that the benefits are limited to the tasks directly trained. This article aims to explore the current state of research on brain training games, examining their potential benefits and limitations.
Evidence Supporting Brain Training Games
Improvements in Cognitive Functions
Several studies have demonstrated that brain training games can improve specific cognitive functions. For instance, a randomized controlled trial found that the brain training game “Brain Age” significantly improved executive functions, working memory, and processing speed in young adults1. Similarly, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials indicated that commercially available cognitive games could enhance processing speed, working memory, executive function, and verbal memory in older adults without cognitive impairment4.
Benefits for Older Adults
Research has also shown that brain training games can be beneficial for older adults, particularly those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). A review of computerized cognitive training (CCT) interventions found that brain games could modestly improve aspects of cognition and mood in patients with MCI5. Another meta-analysis revealed that brain gaming interventions could improve cognitive function in older adults with cognitive impairments, although the overall effect was not statistically significant due to high heterogeneity among studies6.
Limitations and Mixed Results
Limited Transfer of Training
Despite some positive findings, the transfer of training effects to untrained tasks remains a significant challenge. A study examining the impact of casual video games on cognition found that while participants improved on the training games, the transfer to untrained tasks was limited. No significant gains were observed in reasoning, working memory, episodic memory, or perceptual speed2. This suggests that the benefits of brain training games may be confined to the specific tasks practiced during training.
Conflicting Views and Methodological Issues
The scientific community remains divided on the efficacy of brain training games. In 2014, two groups of scientists published conflicting open letters on the subject. One group claimed that brain games do not provide a scientifically grounded way to improve cognitive functioning, while the other argued that the literature demonstrates their benefits for various cognitive and everyday activities3. This disagreement may stem from different standards used to evaluate the evidence and methodological shortcomings in many studies.
Recommendations for Future Research
To address the mixed results and methodological issues, researchers have called for more rigorous studies. Recommendations include using well-designed trials with large sample sizes, employing active control groups, and ensuring that training tasks closely resemble real-world demands3 10. Additionally, future research should focus on identifying the specific design features of brain training games that contribute to their effectiveness10.
Do brain games work?
Michael Thomas has answered Unlikely
An expert from Birkbeck, University of London in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Intelligence
Kind of depends what you mean by brain games! Anything you train on, you’ll get better on, and your brain will have to change for this to happen.
The concern around brain games has been twofold. First, some companies sell training games promising that they are supported by neuroscience, but if you follow up the papers they refer to, the science often doesn’t support the company’s claims. In this case, neuroscience is just being used as ‘window-dressing’ to encourage you to buy.
The second concern is if brain training games are being sold with the claim that they will improve your general cognitive skills – your intelligence! On the whole, however, we find that these games only improve the task you are training on, they don’t yield general benefits.
So, by all means train on a task or skill if you want to get better at it – just be skeptical of the claim it will make you cleverer (see here for a great paper making these points: https://cogsci.northwestern.edu/events/2016-2017-events/simonsEtAl_2016-BrainTraining.pdf)
Do brain games work?
Nachshon Meiran has answered Unlikely
An expert from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Intelligence
Regarding recent booming of video game/working-memory computerized training, some people express very optimistic views in high ranked journals. On the other hand, meta analytic reviews of the empirical literature indicate either tiny (Au et al., ~2014, PBR) or absent gains, in my my opinion, given what we know, it is unfair (or worse) to promise otherwise.
Do brain games work?
Robert Sternberg has answered Unlikely
An expert from Cornell University in Education, Intelligence, Development Studies, Psychology
Brain games primarily increase your performance on brain games–they are not the best way to increase your intelligence.