MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, UK.
Nature. 2010 Jun 10;465(7299):775-8. doi: 10.1038/nature09042.
'Brain training', or the goal of improved cognitive function through the regular use of computerized tests, is a multimillion-pound industry, yet in our view scientific evidence to support its efficacy is lacking. Modest effects have been reported in some studies of older individuals and preschool children, and video-game players outperform non-players on some tests of visual attention. However, the widely held belief that commercially available computerized brain-training programs improve general cognitive function in the wider population in our opinion lacks empirical support. The central question is not whether performance on cognitive tests can be improved by training, but rather, whether those benefits transfer to other untrained tasks or lead to any general improvement in the level of cognitive functioning. Here we report the results of a six-week online study in which 11,430 participants trained several times each week on cognitive tasks designed to improve reasoning, memory, planning, visuospatial skills and attention. Although improvements were observed in every one of the cognitive tasks that were trained, no evidence was found for transfer effects to untrained tasks, even when those tasks were cognitively closely related.
“大脑训练”，或者通过定期使用计算机测试来提高认知功能的目标，是一个价值数百万英镑的产业，但在我们看来，支持其疗效的科学证据是缺乏的。在一些针对老年人和学龄前儿童的研究中，已经报道了一些适度的效果，而且视频游戏玩家在一些视觉注意力测试中表现优于非玩家。然而，人们普遍认为，商业上可用的计算机化大脑训练程序可以提高更广泛人群的一般认知功能，在我们看来，这缺乏经验证据的支持。核心问题不是认知测试的表现能否通过训练得到提高，而是这些益处是否能转移到其他未受过训练的任务上，或者是否能导致认知功能水平的普遍提高。在这里，我们报告了一项为期六周的在线研究的结果，该研究共有 11430 名参与者每周多次接受旨在提高推理、记忆、计划、视空间技能和注意力的认知任务的训练。尽管在所有接受训练的认知任务中都观察到了提高，但没有发现转移效应到未受训练的任务的证据，即使这些任务在认知上是密切相关的。
