Brain training on an accounting course

Many scientific investigations rely on quite small numbers of volunteers for their data. Not so when the BBC is carrying out the investigation as in the corporation's research into the effectiveness of so-called 'brain training' software programmes. We should not be surprised to learn that the BBC found no evidence that the benefits of playing brain training games transfer to other brain skills.

We might think, then, that such exercises are worthless especially given Dr Adrian Owen's comment that, "Brain training is only as good as spending six weeks using the internet. There is no meaningful difference." We would be wrong, though, to be completely dismissive. The Internet, after all, is not only the source of much of our information including news, blogs, maps etc, but also provides a great deal of stimulation as we click from RSS feed to blog to tweet to personal home page. Using the Internet has become a highly skilled activity in its own right that we develop by practice in exactly the same way as a brain training game.

The usefulness of the Internet goes well beyond the opportunity for us to show our dexterity in using a multitude of online resources. There are numerous wonderful free courses that actually enable you to learn a particular skill. The free online bookkeeping taster course from the Accounting and Bookkeeping College is a prime example of how you can learn something highly worthwhile, basic accountancy in this case, whilst also keeping you brain in training: so much better than paying for a toy application on a games console.