DS puzzle game Brain Age (sold as Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training in PAL territories) is marketed by Nintendo as a way to increase one's intelligence and memory. A cognitive psychology professor at University of Rennes in France says the claim is bogus, though.

According to The Times, Professor Alain Lieury came to this conclusion after conducting a recent study. He administered memory tests to 67 ten-year-old children split into four groups: the first two groups did a seven-week memory course on a Nintendo DS, the third did puzzles with pencils and paper, and the fourth just went to school as normal. According to Lieury, the positive effects for the Brain Age group were few and weak. They actually scored no better than those doing puzzles with pencil and paper.

"The Nintendo DS is a technological jewel. As a game it's fine," said Lieury. "But it is charlatanism to claim that it is a scientific test." In Lieury's upcoming book, Stimulate Your Neurones, he states that Ryuta Kawashima, the Japanese neuroscientist who developed the game, is "one of a long list of dream merchants."

Yeah, this guy's got a book coming out. Interpret that how you will. It certainly doesn't hurt to be one-sided and scatching when you're trying to attract readers, though I doubt it's showmanship. I imagine a video game that claims to boost the user's intelligence would rub most academics the wrong way.