Bad Science By Dr Ben Goldacre, Book Review- Chapter 2 Brain Gym

This chapter critiques Brain Gym, a program of physical exercises and activities that claims to improve learning, cognitive function, and educational outcomes by “activating brain pathways.” Goldacre uses Brain Gym as a case study in how pseudoscience can enter education, and how appealing-sounding science can be misused.

Key Ideas & Arguments

1. What Brain Gym claims to do

• Brain Gym promoters assert that simple movements and “brain buttons” etc., can improve bloodflow, stimulate underused neural pathways, integrate left/right hemisphere activity, etc., thereby facilitating better learning.

• These claims are often dressed in scientific-sounding language: neurological, pathways, activation. They attempt to appeal to non-specialists’ trust in “brain science”.

2. Prevalence and institutional adoption

• Despite lack of strong, credible evidence, Brain Gym exercises had been adopted by many schools in the UK. Local education authorities were supporting or permitting Brain Gym.

• Goldacre argues that this institutional adoption gives an appearance of legitimacy, even though the scientific foundations are weak or nonexistent.