With their promise of improved mental abilities, it is easy to see why brain training games are so popular. But new research shows that the perceived benefits may be limited to memory instead of IQ.
Most people would love a boost in brain power. And marketing departments are quick to tap into these desires. But an advertisement promising to improve your intelligence may be too alluring to resist, and probably too good to be true.
Psychological scientist Randall Engle of the Georgia Institute of Technology explains:
"It is hard to spend any time on the web and not see an ad for a website that promises to train your brain, fix your attention, and increase your IQ. These claims are particularly attractive to parents of children who are struggling in school."
Prof. Engle believes the claims are based on evidence that shows a strong correlation between working memory capacity (WMC) and general fluid intelligence.
Working memory capacity - or short-term memory - refers to our ability to keep information either in mind or quickly retrievable, particularly in the presence of distraction. General fluid intelligence is the ability to infer relationships, do complex reasoning, and solve problems.
The link between WMC and fluid intelligence seems to suggest that increasing WMC should increase fluid intelligence, but, as Prof. Engle notes: "this assumes that the two constructs are the same thing, or that WMC is the basis for fluid intelligence."
No comments:
Post a Comment