For Immediate Release
March 2, 2010
 
Contact:
Prof. James Giordano, PhD
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Laurie Kinney
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703-525-0770
 
 
Neuroscientist Says "Brain Games" Not for Everyone

 
Arlington, VA -  Potomac Institute for Policy Studies neuroscientist and neuroethicist James Giordano, PhD, says consumers should proceed with caution when using neurofeedback products on the market, some of which are sold as games or toys.  He says while neurofeedback has proven clinical value, there are things we don't know about how the technology interacts with the brain. Dr. Giordano says its use in toys could pose a risk to certain populations, especially children and people with neuropsychiatric conditions or disorders.
 
The warning comes as the market is seeing an explosion of products that claim to harness the power of the brain for a variety of purposes.  Neurofeedback uses sensors which, when placed in contact with the head, are able to pick up electrical output caused by brain activity. The signals may be input to a computer that translates them into a display, or - in games and toys - another device that uses them to power simple actions such as moving a ball.
 
Dr. Giordano says when used as directed by the manufacturer, the games are probably safe for healthy adults. But parents may want to think twice before giving them to kids. According to Dr. Giordano, "In the child, the great unknown is a), how do these technologies affect the developing brain-mind, and b), what might be the long-term or even short-term manifestations of those particular effects? And to date, that is just not known."
 
For more on the brain-game controversy, please visit www.potomacinstitute.org.  Dr. Giordano may be reached directly via e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. He is currently the Director of the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies’ Center for Neurotechnology Studies and the Capital Consortium for Neuroscience: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (www.ccnelsi.com).   He is also a Senior Research Associate, Wellcome Centre for Neuroethics and Uehiro Centre for Practical Philosophy, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.