Whether Brain-Training Games would affect or boost your IQ?
New research in Nature shows that the brain-training games played by millions of people don't boost IQ.
In the study of more than 11,400 healthy adults, those who played brain-training games did get better at the specific tasks involved in the games, such as solving mathematical problems, but these improvements did not transfer into any other general mental abilities.
"I was surprised to find that millions of people are in involved in these activities, but there was very little solid, peer-reviewed scientific evidence that shows it works," says Adrian M. Owen, PhD, a neuroscientist and assistant director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England, in a telephone news conference. "If you are doing it for fun, it's fine, but if you expect improvements in your IQ or general function, our data suggests they will not make you any smarter overall."
None of the brain-training tasks transferred into improvements in any other mental abilities. The participants did get better in the specific tests that they practiced, and the more they trained, the better they got in these specific tasks, the study showed.
"Even for the people that trained more than average, there was still no translation to any general improvement in cognitive function," says study researcher Jessica A. Grahn, PhD, also with MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, during the telephone news conference. "Some of things they were practicing, like getting faster at math, may be useful in and of itself. But if you are [brain training] to see a generalized improvement in overall function, the evidence does not support it."
The new findings only apply to healthy adults who use these games to boost their general cognitive ability, not individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive disorders. "These results do not speak to Alzheimer's disease," Owens says.
But brain training may play a small role in helping people with healthy brains stay sharp. "It can't hurt, and there is really no downside," she says.
"This is just mild exercise, more like walking," he says. "You are not going to become a great athlete by just walking," he tells WebMD.
"Making people smarter is a massive enterprise and a lifetime's work," he says. "Brain-training games can be a small part as long as you don't get addicted and spend too much time in one little exercise." Braverman recommends playing these games for a half an hour a day and choosing something that you can't easily win.
Brain-training games are available all over the Internet and can be played on handheld computer devices. Nintendo offers Brain Age and Brain Age 2 on their handheld DS device
In this way it is like a workout for the brain and the challenges in the game can help stimulate the player's brain," according to a statement from Nintendo. "Nintendo does not make any claims that Brain Age and/or Brain Age 2 are scientifically proven to improve cognitive function."
In the study of more than 11,400 healthy adults, those who played brain-training games did get better at the specific tasks involved in the games, such as solving mathematical problems, but these improvements did not transfer into any other general mental abilities.
"I was surprised to find that millions of people are in involved in these activities, but there was very little solid, peer-reviewed scientific evidence that shows it works," says Adrian M. Owen, PhD, a neuroscientist and assistant director of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit in Cambridge, England, in a telephone news conference. "If you are doing it for fun, it's fine, but if you expect improvements in your IQ or general function, our data suggests they will not make you any smarter overall."
None of the brain-training tasks transferred into improvements in any other mental abilities. The participants did get better in the specific tests that they practiced, and the more they trained, the better they got in these specific tasks, the study showed.
"Even for the people that trained more than average, there was still no translation to any general improvement in cognitive function," says study researcher Jessica A. Grahn, PhD, also with MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, during the telephone news conference. "Some of things they were practicing, like getting faster at math, may be useful in and of itself. But if you are [brain training] to see a generalized improvement in overall function, the evidence does not support it."
The new findings only apply to healthy adults who use these games to boost their general cognitive ability, not individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other cognitive disorders. "These results do not speak to Alzheimer's disease," Owens says.
But brain training may play a small role in helping people with healthy brains stay sharp. "It can't hurt, and there is really no downside," she says.
"This is just mild exercise, more like walking," he says. "You are not going to become a great athlete by just walking," he tells WebMD.
"Making people smarter is a massive enterprise and a lifetime's work," he says. "Brain-training games can be a small part as long as you don't get addicted and spend too much time in one little exercise." Braverman recommends playing these games for a half an hour a day and choosing something that you can't easily win.
Brain-training games are available all over the Internet and can be played on handheld computer devices. Nintendo offers Brain Age and Brain Age 2 on their handheld DS device
In this way it is like a workout for the brain and the challenges in the game can help stimulate the player's brain," according to a statement from Nintendo. "Nintendo does not make any claims that Brain Age and/or Brain Age 2 are scientifically proven to improve cognitive function."
the impacts of Yushu earthquake seen on energy China
An earthquake of 7.1 degrees in Yushu of Qinghai Province, Northwest of China has caused near 2,000 death tolls, but is believed to have little impacts on the Chinese energy sector. In general, potential impacts of the Yushu earthquake on the economy and the entire country are much smaller than either the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province two years ago and the severe drought in Southwest China this spring.
Qinghai Province is a under developed province in the country, and Yushu is an even poorer region in the province, with agricuture and husbandry as major economic activities. Qinghai Province contributes just 0.3 percent of the national GDP and consumes around 0.8 percent of the total energy in China.
Major oil and gas producing fields, pipelines and other infrastructure in Qinghai Province are over 400 miles away from the epicenter. Electricity in Yushu is locally generated without connecting to the national or provincial grids. In general, no major damages are reported to main energy structure. Rescue operations and reconstructions may boost rather limited demand for building materials and energy.
Qinghai Province is a under developed province in the country, and Yushu is an even poorer region in the province, with agricuture and husbandry as major economic activities. Qinghai Province contributes just 0.3 percent of the national GDP and consumes around 0.8 percent of the total energy in China.
Major oil and gas producing fields, pipelines and other infrastructure in Qinghai Province are over 400 miles away from the epicenter. Electricity in Yushu is locally generated without connecting to the national or provincial grids. In general, no major damages are reported to main energy structure. Rescue operations and reconstructions may boost rather limited demand for building materials and energy.
Climate change affect adversely
Seemingly tired of power loadshedding the common people still showed interest towards Earth Hour observed on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. because now it is not a secret that highly important issue of climate change and global warming is likely to adversely affect multiple sectors including water, agriculture, forests, biodiversity, livestock and even coastal zones.
Executive Director of Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) Dr. Arshad M. Khan told this correspondent that switching off the lights for an hour itself carries little effect on climate change, practical or symbolic, but it could help show that citizens of Pakistan can unite in a display of climate action.
The highly sensitive issue of climate change and global warming needs serious approach because merely ignoring the issue of climate change would serve nothing instead of pushing all of them towards such an untoward situation where it might be difficult to face the challenge of declining environment.
Dr. Arshad said that glaciers of Hindu Kash and Himalayas are believed to be receding due to climate change and about 80 per cent of the nation’s food and fibre needs are met by the canal irrigation network that is mainly dependent on these glaciers.
According to the World Bank report titled ‘Shared Views on Development and Climate Change in South Asia’, Pakistan is faced with all five risks — sea level rise, glacier retreat, temperature increase, more frequent floods and more frequent droughts — identified due to the climate change. Pakistan’s 22.8 per cent area and 49.6 per cent of population is at risk due to the impact of climate change.
Dr. Seeme Mallick of Mehboobul Haq Human Development Centre who is extensively working in the area of climate change said that although Pakistan produces minimal chloro fluorocarbons and a little sulphur dioxide emissions, thus making a negligible contribution to ozone depletion and acid rain, it is expected to suffer disproportionately from climate change and other global environmental problems.
She said the projected future climate trends predict a significant increase in annual temperature, which could induce biodiversity losses, changes in land use and crop failure.
Increase in temperature could not only increase water demand because of higher evaporation rates, but may also increase rainfall due to additional moisture because of higher evaporation from the sea surface.
UK based environmentalist Matthew Savage during his visit to Pakistan last year clearly warned that there would be an exceptional change in temperatures in Pakistan as a whole in the coming years and there were chances of decline in irrigated wheat yield in the semi-arid areas of Pakistan in the range of nine to 30 per cent for a temperature increase of one degree centigrade to four degrees centigrade.
Dr. Seeme Mallick said droughts in the past caused sharp declines in water tables and dried up wetlands and the temperature in the coastal areas have risen from 0.6 to 1 degree centigrade. Precipitation has decreased 10 to 15 per cent in the coastal belt and hyper arid plains while there is an increase in summer and winter rains in northern Pakistan.
Both micro and macro management of water resources is becoming difficult both qualitatively and quantitatively with high cost.
Executive Director of Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC) Dr. Arshad M. Khan told this correspondent that switching off the lights for an hour itself carries little effect on climate change, practical or symbolic, but it could help show that citizens of Pakistan can unite in a display of climate action.
The highly sensitive issue of climate change and global warming needs serious approach because merely ignoring the issue of climate change would serve nothing instead of pushing all of them towards such an untoward situation where it might be difficult to face the challenge of declining environment.
Dr. Arshad said that glaciers of Hindu Kash and Himalayas are believed to be receding due to climate change and about 80 per cent of the nation’s food and fibre needs are met by the canal irrigation network that is mainly dependent on these glaciers.
According to the World Bank report titled ‘Shared Views on Development and Climate Change in South Asia’, Pakistan is faced with all five risks — sea level rise, glacier retreat, temperature increase, more frequent floods and more frequent droughts — identified due to the climate change. Pakistan’s 22.8 per cent area and 49.6 per cent of population is at risk due to the impact of climate change.
Dr. Seeme Mallick of Mehboobul Haq Human Development Centre who is extensively working in the area of climate change said that although Pakistan produces minimal chloro fluorocarbons and a little sulphur dioxide emissions, thus making a negligible contribution to ozone depletion and acid rain, it is expected to suffer disproportionately from climate change and other global environmental problems.
She said the projected future climate trends predict a significant increase in annual temperature, which could induce biodiversity losses, changes in land use and crop failure.
Increase in temperature could not only increase water demand because of higher evaporation rates, but may also increase rainfall due to additional moisture because of higher evaporation from the sea surface.
UK based environmentalist Matthew Savage during his visit to Pakistan last year clearly warned that there would be an exceptional change in temperatures in Pakistan as a whole in the coming years and there were chances of decline in irrigated wheat yield in the semi-arid areas of Pakistan in the range of nine to 30 per cent for a temperature increase of one degree centigrade to four degrees centigrade.
Dr. Seeme Mallick said droughts in the past caused sharp declines in water tables and dried up wetlands and the temperature in the coastal areas have risen from 0.6 to 1 degree centigrade. Precipitation has decreased 10 to 15 per cent in the coastal belt and hyper arid plains while there is an increase in summer and winter rains in northern Pakistan.
Both micro and macro management of water resources is becoming difficult both qualitatively and quantitatively with high cost.
Lack of clean water kills 4,000 lives per day
It is a report released overnight More than two and a half billion of the world's people live without proper sanitation by the World Health Organization and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) into the availability of clean water.
As David Mark reports, the situation is particularly bad in southern Asia, but that simple changes can have dramatic effects.
A toilet - that basic facility that so many of us take for granted is still unheard of for literally billions of people.
The report found that 39 per cent of people don't have access to toilets and that the lack of sanitation spreads diseases which kill 4,000 children every day.
As David Mark reports, the situation is particularly bad in southern Asia, but that simple changes can have dramatic effects.
A toilet - that basic facility that so many of us take for granted is still unheard of for literally billions of people.
The report found that 39 per cent of people don't have access to toilets and that the lack of sanitation spreads diseases which kill 4,000 children every day.
Shoes are so popular to women who wants to show her beauty
Shoes, a woman walking alone is no longer a tool, but shake the people who are into shows, fashion goods, an essential element of a woman reading.
In such a "shoe popular" era, Nike - from Canada's international fashion brand, has been a keen fashion sense and unique design concepts, arrogance natural pace to lead the fashion. Whether you're anywhere in the world, as long as into the cheap Nike shoes store, he served as sections of the shoes and jumping into your eyes, a right of exploration in this beautiful began.
In 2006 autumn and winter is full of surprises, let us listen to the popular concept of cheap Nike shox top designers to experience the latest materials and style of the perfect match.
Boots, beauty woman almost dry in the cold season play beautiful "magic magic weapon." Because boots, they do not have to be heavy monotonous style of pants and shoes are tied, not because the tall slender slim enough to worry about; on the contrary, since an increasing number of women with confidence to enter the boots legs the moment will "skirt-ism" is no longer carried out in the end is a pipe dream. It not only meets the needs of temperature and grace, but also makes the boots and a skirt match with complement to each other.
If you agree that "pop the present time" argument, then the boots this year's fashion trends, NFL Jerseys matching with Nike shoes are very fashionable. you have to grasp the 56 points. Abandon the once popular on the streets of fine pointed boots bar, round boots are the real center stage this season, toe is no longer You Alice, styling details of the changes, as well as clear and smooth lines of the shoe last expression is a kinds of fashion's return, and the impetuous behind the low-key luxury.
In such a "shoe popular" era, Nike - from Canada's international fashion brand, has been a keen fashion sense and unique design concepts, arrogance natural pace to lead the fashion. Whether you're anywhere in the world, as long as into the cheap Nike shoes store, he served as sections of the shoes and jumping into your eyes, a right of exploration in this beautiful began.
In 2006 autumn and winter is full of surprises, let us listen to the popular concept of cheap Nike shox top designers to experience the latest materials and style of the perfect match.
Boots, beauty woman almost dry in the cold season play beautiful "magic magic weapon." Because boots, they do not have to be heavy monotonous style of pants and shoes are tied, not because the tall slender slim enough to worry about; on the contrary, since an increasing number of women with confidence to enter the boots legs the moment will "skirt-ism" is no longer carried out in the end is a pipe dream. It not only meets the needs of temperature and grace, but also makes the boots and a skirt match with complement to each other.
If you agree that "pop the present time" argument, then the boots this year's fashion trends, NFL Jerseys matching with Nike shoes are very fashionable. you have to grasp the 56 points. Abandon the once popular on the streets of fine pointed boots bar, round boots are the real center stage this season, toe is no longer You Alice, styling details of the changes, as well as clear and smooth lines of the shoe last expression is a kinds of fashion's return, and the impetuous behind the low-key luxury.
