As a preface to the following, Lumosity is a brain-training game that is marketed as a “brain workout”
You can view a video detailing Lumosity below (courtesy of SourceFedNerd):
On the other hand, Portal 2 is a popular first-person puzzle video game developed by Valve, and the sequel to the original Portal.
Portal 2 Better At Improving Cognitive Skills
Interestingly enough, a study conducted by Val Shute, a researcher of the psychology of education at Florida State University, is a huge fan of Portal 2. Shute says that she played the game avidly back when it was released in 2011.
Shute had the following to say on the game:
“I was really just entranced by it. While I was playing it, I was thinking, I’m really engaging in all sorts of problem-solving.”
Naturally, she decided to conduct an academic study on how Portal 2 affects brain function and cognitive skills. Shute and 2 colleagues created and completed a study comparing Portal 2 with the aforementioned Lumosity.
After 8 hours of playing both games, subjects who played Portal 2 showed a significant improvement over those that played Lumosity in a variety of different standard cognitive skill tests. Furthermore, those that played Lumosity did not show an improvement over Portal 2 players in any of the tests. In the end, Shute simply stated, “Portal 2 kicks Lumosity’s ass.”
Shute and her colleagues’ study was published in the Computers & Education journal.
While, Shute and company’s study is not enough to ultimately say that Portal 2 is better than Lumosity when it comes to improving brain cognitive function, it is notable for a number of reasons.
First, it may be the first study to compare a widely available video game designed for entertainment with a commercial brain-training game.
Second, according to C. Shawn Green, a psychologist at the University of Wisconson-Madison, the study brings about an interesting conflict. In regards to the matter, Shawn stated the following:
“If entertainment games actually do a better job than games designed for neuroplasticity, what that suggests is that we are clearly missing something important about neuroplasticity.”
Neuroplasticity is the theory that the adult brain is able to grow, change, and adapt with learning, playing, and training.
Shute’s study aligns with previous research that video games can have positive effects on the brain. While her study cannot be considered conclusive, Shute has hope that her study brings about more studies on the cognitive benefits of video games.
What are your thoughts on this information? Do you believe that video games can benefit cognitive brain function? Do you feel smarter after you play a certain video game? If so, which one?
Let us know in the comments section below! As always, stay tuned to GamerHeadlines.com for the latest in video game and technology news.
Source: PopSci.com
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