A Western University neuroscientist is looking for people to play a few "brain games" online as part of a new study exploring the connection between physical and cognitive health.
The study launched on Friday and is being conducted by Western Neuroscientist Adrian Owen in partnership with the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, U.K.
To participate, a person just has to go to www.brainbodystudy.com and complete a 75 minute survey that includes fun brain games and cognitive challenges. At the end, participants will be given instant results about how their own brain and body functions. They will also be signed up for a chance to win Amazon vouchers worth $100 each.
Researchers hope to use the data obtained through the survey to identify activities and lifestyle habits that could improve or maintain life-long functioning of the brain.
“What we hope to do is to establish definitively whether exercise is beneficial for cognition function, and if so, which cognitive functions benefit most,” said Owen, a professor of cognitive neuroscience and imaging at Western’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the department of psychology in the Faculty of Social Science. “We will also look at how this may vary across the lifespan. If exercise is good for your brain, does it confer the same benefits in the old and the young?”
The study will also look to determine whether playing highly immersive video games can improve cognitive function.
"So far, the scientific community is divided on the issue and we want to conduct the definitive study that really gets to the truth," said Owen.
Findings of the study will be announced at the Manchester Science Festival in October.
