Sim-O

I just watched Newsnight.
They had a story about Brain Gym. It’s exercises to get the blood flowing and to improve the ‘electrical circuits’ in the body and brain to improve learning.
Schools pay for practitioners to come in to the school and be a ‘consultant’ advising on how to implement it. It is a load of shite. And we’re paying for it.

I have only just heard of it. Ben Goldacre at Bad Science has heard of it previously:

Is there anything else I can do to make blood and oxygen get to my brain better? Yes, an exercise called “Brain Buttons”: “Make a ‘C’ shape with your thumb and forefinger and place on either side of the breast bone just below the collar bone. Gently rub for 20 or 30 seconds whilst placing your other hand over your navel. Change hands and repeat. This exercise stimulates the flow of oxygen carrying blood through the carotid arteries to the brain to awaken it and increase concentration and relaxation.” Why? “Brain buttons lie directly over and stimulate the carotid arteries.”

Now, I’m waiting to be impressed by any kid who can stimulate his carotid arteries inside his ribcage, but it’s going to involve dissection with the sharp scissors that only mummy can use.

Update: Here Bens’ post about the Newsnight feature<