Online ISSN: 2325-7466
2006
Triannual
National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET)
United States

Articles

Brain Gym: Pseudoscientific Practice

  • Kevin Kroeze, BAE (Author) Mt. Vernon School District
    Kevin Kroeze, BAE, completed his bachelor’s degree at Western Washington University with a major in special education. He is currently teaching in the Mt. Vernon School District in Washington State.
  • Keith J. Hyatt, Ed.D. (Author) Western Washington University image/svg+xml
    Keith J. Hyatt, Ed.D., is professor of special education at Western Washington University. His research interests include controversial and pseudoscientific practices, special education law, the IEP, and inclusion. He has written numerous articles and book chapters and just completed a book on IEP development.
  • M. Chuck Lambert, Ph.D. (Author) Western Washington University
    M. Chuck Lamber, Ph.D., is an associate professor of special education at Western Washington University. His research interests include applied behavior analysis/contextual psychology, single subject design, behavior, and psychiatric disorders.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.308
Abstract
There is an abundance of scams and pseudoscientific practices promising seemingly magical cures for whatever ails a person. A short viewing of late night television will readily reveal a whole host of scams that may be more effective at relieving the viewer of the cash in his or her pocket than alleviating any unwanted symptoms. Unfortunately, ineffective practices are not only advertised on late night television, sometimes, children who are compelled to attend school are forced to participate in practices that waste valuable instruction time. This paper will provide a brief review of Brain Gym which is one commercial program used in schools in over 80 countries under the assumption that it will improve student learning and a whole host of other skills, without actually teaching the skills. There is no quality empirical evidence supporting this claim, yet schools continue to expend valuable time and fiscal resources on such programs.
Keywords
Brain, Brain Hemisphere Functions, Cognitive Processes, Deception, Evidence, Instructional Effectiveness
References

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Brain Gym® International. Brain Gym® testimonials. Retrieved November 2, 2011, from http://www.braingym.org/users.

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Spaulding, L.S., Mostert, M.P., & Beam, A.P. (2010). Is Brain Gym® an effective educational intervention? Exceptionality, 18, 18-30. doi:10.1080/09362830903462508 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09362830903462508

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Additional Biography www.badscience.net/category/brain-gym/ This site provides access to a website called bad science. It is a nice place to check when investigating the efficacy claims of many practices that appear to be controversial or pseudoscientific. www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5rH7kDcFpc This is a link to part 1 of an eye-opening investigation and review of Brain Gym practice in the United Kingdom. In 2008, Jeremy Paxton from Newsnight conducted this approximate 9 minute review. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YjRhYP5faTU This is the link to Part 2 of the Newsnight review in which the founder of Brain Gym, Paul Dennison, is interviewed by Jeremy Paxton. This testy interview lasts about 5 minutes. www.thesekpticsguide.org This site does not address Brain Gym, but is a great source of information for scientific inquiry and logical argument. They even have a free podcast. The leader of the group, Dr. Steven Novella, is neurologist at Yale University School of Medicine.

There are 19 references in total.
How to Cite
Kroeze, K., Hyatt, K. J., & Lambert, M. C. (2016). Brain Gym: Pseudoscientific Practice. Journal of the American Academy of Special Education Professionals, 11(2), 75-80. https://doi.org/10.64546/jaasep.308

Spring/Summer 2016

Article Information

  • Article Type Articles
  • Submitted May 19, 2016
  • Published June 15, 2016
  • Issue Spring/Summer 2016
  • Section Articles
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