Wii repairing brain damage

UK brain-injury charity Headway believes patients playing Wii are recovering more quickly.

It bought the console originally for younger patients, but has been surprised by its popularity among the older crowd and the effect it has had.

"Brain-injury victims have trouble with all sorts of things, such as hand-eye coordination, concentration and attention span. The Wii seems to improve all of them," suit Jean Robinson told The Sun newspaper.

Scientifically, when hands cross the middle of the body both halves of the brain become involved, a crucial process in stimulating signalling pathways.

Success stories from Headway include a 38 year-old man who can now grasp objects like mugs in his right hand after playing Wii Sports, and a 62 year-old fellow glad to have his heart rate pumping after being confined to a wheelchair in 2004.

Videogames given a thumbs-up from the Tabloids, then. Mel, 24, from Morecambe, agrees.