Brain training games may help recovery from brain injury London Met research reveals

New research by psychologists at London Met has revealed that modern brain training games can benefit people recovering from brain injuries and those suffering from dementia by helping them to reverse memory loss. 

The research revealed that just 15 minutes a day spent on brain training exercises promotes the growth of new brain cells, and could help those with memory problems lead more independent lives.

The study involved 64 people, aged from 20 to 71, who suffer from problems with brain injury including brain damage, stroke and dementia. The volunteers were divided into two groups, one was asked to play a brain training game which tested short-term memory on a handheld electronic device 15 minutes, the other group carried out traditional word recall exercises using pen and paper.

Researchers then tested the participants on a traditional memory recall task after the game, and found a significant improvement in both groups.

However playing the computer games was almost twice as effective at improving memory as performing similar exercises with a pen and paper. Those who had practised on computer games, recall had improved by 60 per cent, compared with 37 per cent for those who practised on paper. Participants were also overwhelmingly favourable about using the games, and perceived them as fun and engaging and said they would continue to use them.

Dr Simon Moore from London Met’s School of Psychology said: ‘It is really interesting to find that people with brain injuries both benefited from, and enjoyed these brain training games, and we hope that they can become part of treatment programmes that improve brain injured patients' independence and self-fulfilment.’

The study was carried out by Linton Khor while an undergraduate at London Met and supervised by Dr Simon Moore. The results were presented on 16 April 2010, at the British Psychological Society's Annual Conference.

Mr Khor said: 'Those playing with Brain Training games performed nearly as well as you might expect from people without brain injuries.

'The important thing is that people really enjoyed using the games, they were fun. It's very difficult to get people with memory problems caused by head injuries or disease to stick at pen and paper tests because they're boring  -  this is a way of engaging them and it only takes 15 minutes a day.'

He added: 'In recent years we have discovered the brain is like a muscle, there is the potential for new cells to grow if they are exercised.'

19 April 2010