logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
37m 54s

Did Nintendo Brain Training make me smar...

Phill Agnew
About this episode

I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing Nintendo Brain Training. I’ve always thought it’d make me smarter. Most people agree. I asked 25 Brits, and 24 said it “helps their memory.” And yet, my guest on Nudge, Prof Dan Simons, thinks we’re all wrong. So, does Nintendo brain training work? Well, in today’s episode of Nudge, I find out. 


First, I analysed the dozens of ads Nintendo had put out. I share the psychological nudges they used to persuade us and how they made their game so popular. Then, I run my own experiment. For 5 days, I play Nintendo Brain Training. I record my progress and measure if my intelligence has improved after a week. And finally, I chat with Professor Dan Simons and hear why he thinks so many people like me were lured in by Brain Training’s claims. 


Subscribe to the (free) Nudge Newsletter: https://nudge.ck.page/profile


Learn more about Voxpopme: https://www.voxpopme.com/

Up next
Oct 6
How HubSpot’s CMO Uses AI: 4 Important Tips
Kipp Bodnar is HubSpot’s CMO. He’s also an AI expert. Today, I interview him about how he uses AI, how he expects marketing teams to change, and his four tips to help you adopt AI in your business. --- The Loop Marketing Playbook: https://clickhubspot.com/45054c Kipp’s podcast: h ... Show More
26m 52s
Sep 29
How sights, smells and sounds alter what you buy
In 2011, Coca-Cola introduced a white version of their Coca-Cola can. The drink inside was identical to original Coca-Cola, but customers drinking from this white can hated the taste. The white can made buyers think the Cola tasted worse. To explain why, I need to delve into the ... Show More
23m 16s
Sep 22
Is this famous team-building model wrong?
Is the classic forming, storming, norming, performing model wrong? In this episode of Nudge, Professor Colin Fisher challenges one of the most famous team-building frameworks and reveals what really drives teams to succeed. --- Read Colin’s book: https://colinmfisher.com/ Reading ... Show More
37m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
188. Mind Reading 101: To Know What Your Audience Thinks, Just Ask
How to really know what your audience is thinking.To be a great communicator, you have to get out of your own head. But that’s not all, says Matt Lieberman. According to him, you also have to get into the head of someone else.“Mind-reading is this remarkable ability that humans h ... Show More
24m 48s
Sep 1
5 Minutes to Longevity & Younger Brain (Science of REHIT) with Ulrich Dempfle
What if you could get twice the health and brain benefits of traditional cardio in just five minutes?I know, it sounds impossible. Most people think they need to spend 45 minutes on a treadmill to see real results, but the science shows otherwise.In today’s episode, I’m diving in ... Show More
19m 56s
Sep 26
How To Use Technology and Not Lose Our Minds
Is delegating tasks and even thinking to digital devices making us lose our minds, or at least some brain function? Dr. Sanjay Gupta and neuroscientist Baroness Susan Greenfield, Oxford University professor and author of “Mind Change: How Digital Technologies Are Leaving Their Ma ... Show More
30m 59s
Jul 2024
4 Experts Share Tips to Boost Brain Health, Focus, and Thinking : 1183
In this special episode of The Human Upgrade, you will gain insights from four experts on brain health, memory, attention, and cognitive enhancement. Dr. Daniel Amen, a renowned psychiatrist and brain health expert, discusses the importance of daily practices for brain and mental ... Show More
1h 2m
Sep 2024
Training Your Brain to Work More Effectively
What if the key to efficiency in a world increasingly powered by AI wasn't quantity, but quality? Neuroscientist Mithu Storoni has looked at how and when our brains are the most creative and truly productive at knowledge work. As automation and AI take more rote takes off our pla ... Show More
29m 47s
Nov 2024
266: The Science of Neuroplasticity: Awakening Your Brain’s Potential with Dr. Wendy Suzuki
In this episode, we explore brain health and neuroplasticity, focusing on how adults can enhance their cognitive abilities. The conversation highlights the connection between physical activity and brain function, offering practical exercises for well-being. We also cover transfor ... Show More
57m 15s
Jul 2024
How To Optimise Your Brain Health, Improve Your Memory & Unlock Your Full Potential with Jim Kwik #469
After suffering a traumatic brain injury as a child, this week’s returning podcast guest was labelled "the boy with the broken brain" by teachers and peers, shaping his beliefs about his own capabilities and potential. Fast-forward to today, and he’s transformed his challenges in ... Show More
2h 22m
Apr 2025
184. Why Study Smarter?
I'm in philosophical mood today, exploring the big reasons for the Exam Study Expert mission, and exactly what we hope to help you with!Whether you're brand new to the show or a regular listener, I hope you find fresh inspiration and maybe a a few questions clarified in ... Show More
21m 8s
Aug 2024
Neurotech, Brain Enhancement & Improving Hearing Loss with David Eagleman
Can the brain receive information through unusual channels and still know how to interpret it?What if I told you it was possible to hear with your skin? Or see with your tongue? It may sound like science fiction, but it’s closer to reality than you might think. The limits of your ... Show More
19m 58s
Nov 2024
Is Mario & Luigi: Brothership Bad? Switch 2 Backwards Compatibility, & MORE! | EP. 114
EmSwizzle (Max) discusses his thoughts on Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Nintendo confirming the Nintendo Switch 2 will have backwards compatibility, Nintendo news including more Switch 2 news, updated Nintendo Switch sales, we answer your questions and SO MUCH MORE!   🛒 Shop Mario ... Show More
1h 7m