The Economist likes WOW

[kandrathe]

I saw this in the Economist today -- Why World of Warcraft is good for you.

Based on research published in Current Biology -- Improved Probabilistic Inference as a General Learning Mechanism with Action Video Games.

"A neural model of this task establishes how changing a single parameter, namely the strength of the connections between the neural layer providing the momentary evidence and the layer integrating the evidence over time, captures improvements in action-gamers behavior. These results were established in a visual, but also in a novel auditory, task, indicating generalization across modalities. Thus, improved probabilistic inference provides a general mechanism for why action video game playing enhances performance in a wide variety of tasks. In addition, this mechanism may serve as a signature of training regimens that are likely to produce transfer of learning."

Now we need to follow up the cognitive training regime with a physical one. Perhaps the reward for the 50 pushups, 100 situps, and 1 mile run would be a few hours of HALO Reach, or WOW with some friends.