With the second-generation Oculus Quest headset's release, virtual reality is promising us new ways to connect while we socially isolate during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, as we immerse ourselves in our bubbles, emerging technology companies are exploring the possibilities of VR, big data, and artificial intelligence for more critical use cases. These use cases include making more useful information available to mental health providers for cognitive assessment. For the aging community, where even "active" seniors can feel isolated during the unfolding crisis, it's helpful to take regularly cognitive assessments to understand the changes. Akili Interactive's EndeavorRx made history earlier this year by becoming the first-and-only video game approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a medical treatment, ushering in a new era in the realm of VR.

Concentration and attention deficit could soon be treated with an app and not with pharmaceuticals. Researchers have released a specifically designed game called Decoder which they claim is just as effective as Ritalin when it comes to squashing the symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The game asks people to tap the screen when they spot number sequences or patterns. Participants showed improved attention span and concentration after eight hours of use over the course of a month. It claims those who used the app showed increased performance comparable to the effects seen using stimulants such as Ritalin - a common treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Video games are pretty fun, but most of us don't expect much more than that from entertainment media. But what if a fun video game also, conveniently, helped you succeed more in school and in life? But just as quickly as they've hit the virtual shelves of iTunes and the like, the validity of their claims has been called into question. A new study out this week in the Journal of Neuroscience found that one popular app, Lumosity, doesn't do anything for your brain--other than helping you get better at playing the game itself. While one study on a single app can't be used to make any sweeping conclusions on the benefits (or lack thereof) of brain training games as a whole, it does highlight an important point: It's difficult not only to create the right type of brain training exercise for a specific behavior or condition, but also to figure out if that training actually works.

Trendy brain training computer games may be a waste of time and money, scientists have revealed. They said that while people may get better at the exercise they practise, there is little or no evidence this helps them in their day to day lives. Numerous companies make packages of games, puzzles and exercises that are designed to improve memory, boost attention span or simply keep the mind sharp into old age. Brain training computer games may be a waste of time and money, scientists said last night. Researchers examined more than 130 studies into brain training.

Everything you do changes your brain. Right now, wherever you are, looking at these words is shaping and modifying the connections between neurons inside your head. It seems like a scary thought, but this process – known as neuroplasticity – is fundamental to our ability to learn new skills, keep hold of old ones, and form new memories. Imagine, then, if we could take control of that process. If we could target specific types of skills and cognitive processes, then we could teach our brains to be better at, well, anything.