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What if a few exercises could strengthen the brain just as easily as a trip to the gym strengthens muscles? That’s the allure behind brain-training games. But the science of cognition doesn’t necessarily back up the claims of these popular programs. Now, the Federal Trade Commission has gone after one major brain game purveyor, Lumosity, for false advertising.
“It’s a fun workout and my brain feels great,” says the actor in one of Lumosity’s ads. A voice over then explains that the exercises, which involve matching, recall, puzzles and logic questions, are based on the science of neuroplasticity. This is the idea that the brain can change under the right challenges and conditions. In recent years, neuroscientists have found that new connections can be made even in adults.
Luminosity promoted their service far and wide — ads peppered the airwaves on National Public Radio, Spotify, the History Channel, CNN, Fox News and more; online through blog posts, social media; and used Google AdWords to purchase of “hundreds of keywords related to memory, cognition, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease,” according to a press release from the FTC.
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The company claimed that training with the games for 10 to 15 minutes several times a week could help people reach their “full potential in every aspect of life.”
Read full, original post: Popular Brain Game Maker Luminosity Faces a Fine for False Advertising
