2. Brain Training - Cognitive Function
Games such as Brain Training on the Nintendo DS sell themselves on the premise that they are, in fact, going to make you smarter and more intelligent, which has absolutely no basis - these games do not enhance "cognitive ability". Rather, what they do is enhance cognitive function, in the sense that they get your brain trained in the mode of performing mentally complex tasks, such that if pursued on a regular basis, they are likely to make you more adept at mentally taxing tasks, even if these games won't boost your actual intelligence. By helping players to solve problems and think critically, much like regular puzzle games, Brain Training is a valuable tool that scientists have even begun using to test the brains of people suffering from dementia, essentially to see if it can stave off the decay process in any way. What's important, though, is that the game puts your mind into a superior mode if, like the rest of your body, it is regularly exercised, and that cannot be a bad thing, even if the way it's advertised is a little crass.