Brain Age: How Old Is Your Brain?
Company: Nintendo
The DS has been home to some unique software, especially in Japan. While US gamers aren’t likely to see many of these games, Nintendo is bringing one of the system’s more popular titles to the US with Brain Age. The feeling you get while playing with Brain Age is one of the more unique experiences I’ve encountered. Similar to Nintendogs (which was also a surprise hit for the DS), Brain Age is another entry in the growing genre of non-games, though unlike Nintendogs it actually serves a higher purpose – sharpening your mind.
The theory behind Brain Age is based on the works of neuroscientist Ryuta Kawashima. According to his research, if someone was asked to concentrate on a complex task, certain parts of the brain would show activity. However, if this same person was given a series of simple tasks, nearly all of their brain would show activity. While educational games aren’t anything new, Brain Age takes a unique approach by presenting players with a few small logic puzzles and games, challenging them to use their brains to solve the puzzles. Some are math problems or tricky voice-response questions while others are simple memory problems. As players complete these games, certain parts of their brain are targeted and receive a workout. One may target their short-term memory while another aims towards mental reflexes.
For example, one of the activities included in Brain Age is a Stroop test, which flashes a series of four color names. Some will show up in their corresponding color – yellow written in yellow – and others will show up in completely different colors – red written in black. While reading a series of simple color words may seem like a simple task, you’re actually supposed to call out the color the word is written in. You’re sure to do well during the first few words, but once you hit about ten words, things become decidedly more difficult. Another activity challenges you to a series of simple math problems. The calculations never get much harder than multiplication, and even then you’re mostly confined to single-digit problems, but the rapid-fire pacing is what throws you. It is like those one-minute drills your elementary school math teacher subjected you to, only it is speed drills on fire, going 130 miles per hour through a hospital zone, being chased by helicopters and ninjas, and the ninjas are all on fire too.
So just how old is your brain? Find out April 17.
-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker
Related Links: Nintendo
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