Reversi- probably good for my brain :)

I (YC CHEN) have been hopelessly addicted to Reversi for 2-3 years.  Reversi is marketed by Pressman under the trade name Othello. I figure for a person who do not have other “brain-smart” vice such as crossword puzzles, Sudoku or brain age and other games, this is ok to have a bit of luxury with this game.

DSM-5 and what is new…

In recent research for work, I realized DSM-5 is released in May 2013.  The manual, which is devised and published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), lists the criteria for the diagnosis of various psychiatric disorders. Treatment recommendations, as well as payment by health care providers, can be based on the DSM.

Huge debate surrounds the precise definitions of mental health disorders in the book, as well as the removal of disorders from the book, and the addition of new ones. Each change can affect many people. Several of the changes in the new edition are controversial, and have triggered continued debate, even after the publication of DSM-5.

While I don’t make it a regular reading (thought it is probably a good treatment for insomnia though), it is never-the-less interesting to see some of the changes – the little bit I can understand among all the medical jargon.

Too Much TV time Diminishes Toddlers’ Kindergarten Chances

I have been on a consulting project to building bi-lingual kindergarten in China and in Singapore little over a year now. So my eyes and ears have been more focused on studies that have to do with toddlers. A lot of what is on the internet about TV time and video game times applies to older kids. Or, they are just rehashing old research. Worse, they are based on pseudo-science.  Here is a study that is very well done in my opinion and I will recommend to parents and teachers for reading.  For those who does not like long science articles, I will get to the point here.

Conclusion of the matter is this: Every hourly increase in daily television watching at 29 months of age is associated with diminished vocabulary and math skills, classroom engagement (which is largely determined by attention skills), victimization by classmates, and physical prowess at kindergarten, according to Professor Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal and the CHU Sainte-Justine children’s hospital. 991 girls and 1006 boys in Quebec whose parents reported their television viewing behaviour as part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development.