Computer Games Can Be Good For Brains, Says Neuroscientist

Jan. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Gamers, teachers and parents rejoice. Today at Learning Without Frontiers neuroscientist Dr Paul Howard-Jones will explain the scientific case that the gaming technology represents a new and special influence on the brain, with a uniquely powerful ability to change the way our brains processes information. This means computer games could be highly effective teaching  aids in the future.
   
Dr Howard-Jones, an expert on neuroscience in educational practice and policy, has completed extensive research on gaming’s effects on the brain. Dr Howard-Jones says there is no need to be alarmed by news that technology is changing our brains, but rather we need to adapt the way we teach to exploit its potential for developing our decision-making and reasoning processes.
   
“It is now widely accepted that the brain is influenced by the surrounding environment. Many forms of technology influence our brains in much the same way as other, non-technological, activities. Games, however, are the exception. They have an unusually effective influence on cognition, possibly due their intense stimulation of the brain’s reward system,” says Dr Howard-Jones.

Aided by the neuroscience, Dr Howard-Jones has studied what happens when entire topics are delivered through a whole-class teaching approach based on gaming. Children are enthusiastic. When surveyed most said they would prefer to learn this way all the time, and all considered these gaming lessons to be much more fun than conventional lessons.

In ’What is the internet doing to our brains?’ Dr Howard-Jones will explain how our new understanding of the potential of technology to rewire our brains can be used in the classroom for educational benefit.

Thursday January 26, 2012 10:30am - 11:00am at The Learning Without Frontiers Theatre National Hall Gallery, Olympia

For further information or to arrange an interview contact:
Andrew Mclachlan    020.7384.6980 / 07931.377162 / andrew@mediazoo.tv
Sion Taylor                  020.7384.6980 / 07768.372714 / sion@mediazoo.tv
Katy Lithgow               020.7384.6980 / 07938.787011 / katy@mediazoo.tv      

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Learning Without Frontiers 2012: 25 & 26 January 2012 -
http://www.learningwithoutfrontiers.com/lwf12/