Newsnight - Brain Gym part 1

Brain Gym segment from Newsnight on Tuesday 2nd of April 2008.




See part 2 for the interview with Paul Dennison here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjRhYP5faTU

Edit: For more on brain gym, visit Dr Ben Goldacre's blog "Bad Science" here:
http://www.badscience.net/?cat=32

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Brain
• Gym
• Newsnight
• Paxman
• psuedoscience
• bad
• science

[amazingarthur]

Why aren't more people skeptical of this new age quackery? I guess a lot of Europe embraces homeopathy too. Do your research people!

[captainmadguns]

Actually the "science" is up to the Brain Gym people to prove. At first presented Brain Gym theories which should have been supported by evidence and peer reviewed. The aim of science is to test different hypotheses with experiment to find the most succesful explaination. Without the experiment they are just making up stories and selling them.

He didnt say the science was definately wrong because as a scientist, you can never be certain that Brain Gym will never be right... its just very likely

[bassbass99able]

One of my teachers made me do that shit! she had us hop around while playing "flight of the bumble bee with the lights off. NOT KIDDING!!!!!

[0mniaV1nc1t]

Brain buttons? Why did no-one mention these in the two years of anatomy classes I took?

[99smite]

Well, I'm with Ben Goldacre in this affair. I won't deny that some of the brain gym exercises may have benefits for the student, but not because of stimulation of carotid arteria or other of this BS!! It's because students get a break, some water and physical exercise.

From personal experience, during long stretches of studying, I felt more refreshed and ready for another stretch of learning after a glass of water and a nice walk for 10 minutes.

Maybe I unknowingly stimulated my brain buttons???

[04davenportd]

hahahaha i went to this primary school

[jayhawkpaula]

Brain Gym is part of why teachers are not thought of as professionals. If they can be duped by this quackery, what else will they fall for? In what other profession would this junk science be so widespread?

[Nilguiri]

@theshadowling1

I agree, religion must be studied in an anthropological context; it has shaped human history since it was invented.

If people choose to sign up to a church and listen to this superstitious mumbo jumbo, they are obviously free to do so, but to teach "theology" or pseudoscience like this as if it were in any way factual is an abuse of students of all ages and hijacking the country's education system to promote their own particular fairy stories.

[theshadowling1]

@Nilguiri I do not see what is wrong with understanding other religions. I do feel it is a problem if it is being demonstrated as scientific fact. I hope that this was the point you were making. However, I agree with your point on brain gym.

[Nilguiri]

There should be a jail for these bloody charlatans. This is sickening.

Why am I not surprised that this shite comes from the USA? They'll be wanting to teach religion in schools next! Keep this bullshit to yourself and leave the children alone (execpt that little twat at 9:02 - per se, my ass!).

[SAPer28190]

@Caraboo1992 The placebo effect has nothing to do with one's willingness. In every proper study ever done, its been shwn to be based on the preconceptions of the parties involved (whether or not the patient and doctor believe the treatment will work for example). It's obvious that more exercise, fun and drinking water in schools can improve concentration in pupils. Almost all school classes are beter behaved after settling back in from lunchtime, especially compared to just before a break.

[Caraboo1992]

the problem is that no university or enyone else want to make reaserch on brain gym. Well, when I was little I was doing this excercises. I have dyslexia. And it think it helped me (I also read a lot of books this time so maybe it was reading). It couldn't be placebo beacuse I didn't like this gym and my parents made me to do it.