Memory and reaction games found online are being used daily and are designed to improve your brain in various tasks. University of Oregon psychologists are uncovering their true effects and authenticity. Elliot Berkman, a professor in the department of Psychology and lead author on a publication in the Journal of Neuroscience this Jan. 1, conducted a study around the changes in the brain when using training programs.
“With training, the brain actively became linked to specific cues that predicted when inhibitory control might be needed,” said Berkman. “This result is important because it explains how brain training improves performance on a given task — and also why the performance boost doesn’t generalize beyond that task.”
The study consisted of 60 participants, 27 males and 33 females, ranging from the ages of 18-30. Half of them were tested on their inhibitory control, a series of ‘stop’ and ‘go’ processes. The faster the response indicated a more efficient inhibitory control.
The participants took part in a three-phase study while having their neural activity monitored with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). This captured changes in blood oxygen levels, during a stop-signal task. MRI screening was completed in UO’s Robert and Beverly Lewis Center for Neuroimaging.
The results to the fMRI showed that the three regions of the brain that regulate inhibitory control increased immediately before testing in the training group more than in the control group. This led the researchers to theorize that reducing distress and frustration during trials improved emotional regulation. These were substantial findings. However it leaves the challenge for future research to identify practices that could create longer lasting effects. This study furthers our understanding of inhibitory control.
Berkman’s co-authors  were Lauren E. Kahn and Junaid S. Merchant, doctoral students in psychology. Internal UO faculty research awards supported the project. Other studies exploring brain-training programs are being conducted by The Observer (UK), the Motley Fool and ABC News. The extended article and images can be found here.