Video games have always been looked upon by many as sources of mindless entertainment. Not any more! A new series of games for the Nintendo DS, designed by one of Japan’s leading researchers on brain imaging, aims at improving the player’s IQ through a series of easy-to-perform tasks.

The first title in the set, named after the designer himself as, “Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain?” engages gamers in a series of activities that have been specifically designed to give the brain a good workout. Tasks include counting how many people go out of a house, solving some easy mathematical problems, reading literature through the Nintendo DS microphone, or drawing a picture using the touchscreen of the console. Once the player has completed all the assigned tasks, the game calculates the age of the player’s brain. This age usually goes down with repeated play sessions, as the player gets better at getting the tasks done.

The three titles of the brain training series released so far have already sold more than 5 million copies each, in the first year itself. For senior citizens, who are prone to forgetting daily tasks, and also for people who wish to improve their memory and concentration, this 3-game series is a must have.