The interest in brain-training programs has increased as companies like Lumosity or NeuroNation constantly push their products’ supposed benefits in boosting a person’s intellect, citing scientific studies. However, new research suggests that some of these benefits might be due to a short-term placebo effect instead.
According to the research, people who were told that they were participating in a brain-boosting study ended up performing 5 to 10 points better on IQ tests compared to those who had no idea about the brain-boosting aspect of the experiments.
Lead researcher Cyrus Foroughi from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia says,
We think this is very strong evidence that placebo effects can lead to positive outcomes, as opposed to the training leading to positive outcomes.
While this does not mean that brain-training programs have no benefits, it is “fair to say this suggests a placebo effect can be enhancing these outcomes,” Foroughi adds.
Foroughi and his team recruited 50 participants using fliers that said two different things, posted around a college campus. One of the fliers intentionally promoted a “Brain Training & Cognitive Enhancement” study, with the note that “numerous studies have shown that working memory training can increase fluid intelligence.” The second flier merely said that research participation credits would be given to those willing to take part in an undefined study.
Both groups took an IQ test then underwent an hour of brain training. Foroughi said they specifically did a very short session so as not to induce any real effect on the participants, as an hour of brain training is not considered enough to boost anyone’s intelligence.
The next day, participants were given a follow-up standard IQ test. Those who had known it was a brain-training study scored 5 to 10 points higher on the trial, while those who were not aware of the study scored more or less the same as their initial IQ tests.
Foroughi said, “We don’t believe this is because they actually got smarter after one hour of training.” However, the researchers admit they are unclear as to how a placebo effect could affect a person’s score, pointing to more motivation or higher confidence during the follow-up tests as possible factors.
Lumos Labs, which makes Lumosity, says that the research is “interesting and underscores the importance of proper study design.” Lumos Labs Community Manager Sara Colvin says, “It’s important to note that the researchers explicitly tried to ‘avoid a true training effect,’ and these results should not be oversimplified and construed to invalidate the numerous other studies conducted on cognitive training that have found a significant training effect.”
Colvin added that Lumos Labs is currently working with other researchers in brain-training to develop better standards for future studies in the industry.
Dr. Adam Gazzaley, a brain-training scientist, and professor of neurology, physiology and psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, agrees that the study had significant results that should help future research. Training programs are beneficial, but studies might have overlooked the placebo effect, he said. “With careful development and high-level, rigorous validation, we will see these tools emerge as powerful approaches to improve cognitive ability. But I agree that right now, with the data that’s out there, caution is certainly advised.”
In the meantime, there are numerous things people can do to improve their intellect while brain-training programs are being developed, Gazzaley continues. These include exercise, a healthy diet, using games and puzzles to stay sharp, getting enough sleep and managing stress.
Foroughi, for his part, suggests that those who want to challenge their minds might do well with activities they enjoy, such as Sudoku or crossword puzzles, rather than undergoing brain-training programs.
The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
