Comments on: Forget ‘Brain Training’ games – do a crossword instead

By: Andre "Brain Fitness Coach" Auerbach

Andre "Brain Fitness Coach" Auerbach — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:59:43 +0000

Brain training do work – but unfortunately, most don’t. There has been plenty of studies that showed brain training games don’t work and those that do, yield small results.

Brain training games are meant as a supplement. If you really want to improve your brain, try a healthy diet and exercising.

By: Douglas

Douglas — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:52:11 +0000

As a Lumosity user for over a year, I strongly disagree that it is no more effective than solving a crossword puzzle. I realize that is just my opinion and is anecdotal evidence, but the fact that I have seen significant progress with my scores in games designed to improve focus, task switching, verbal fluency, spatial field, working memory, short-term memory, response inhibition, and more has made me a believer. My perception is that at 42 I now think faster, react faster, and remember better than I ever have.

A crossword puzzle may train verbal memory, logical reasoning, and concentration, but it will do nothing for other brain skills. Surfing the web may help with concentration, but I seriously doubt it will improve my ability to reason quantitatively.

I’m convinced that engaging in a focused, broad-scope, scientifically designed brain training program at least 10 minutes per day provides real benefits.

By: jigsaw puzzle

jigsaw puzzle — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:20:53 +0000

I really appreciate your views on brain games Dave. Currently, there are innumerable brain games specially designed for improving the brain. But all these brain games are nothing more than solving the crossword puzzles. Brain cannot be nourished alone by brain games or any other brain improvement methods. It requires rich nutrition, enriched with trace elements and ballast materials to improve the brain. So taking rich brain diets is the best and natural way to develop and maintain a healthy brain. Along with brain diets regular physical exercise can enhance one’s concentration and memory.

By: Mike Logan

Mike Logan — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:55:55 +0000

Hello All,

I agree with Martin. I think it is important to look at the research, and sort the brain fitness information from the marketing chaff. An editor’s job is to get some readers for his publication, not study and understand the research, so their headlines will be a bit sensational. I am using several of the programs, including Mind Sparke, which is excellent for my attention span and focus. It has not turned me into a genius, however, it has helped me with neuroplasticity and neurogenesis. Brain training is part of my strategy to age effectively, not all of it, so keep gaming, tech blorge, and read the headlines with a bit of discernment. Mike Logan

By: Brain Training

Brain Training — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:25:31 +0000

The problem with this kind of report is that it ignores more considered science and could put people off the idea of brain training. A ten week Scottish study last year came to the conclusion that the Nintendo games improve math scores by more than 50%.

For the best brain training out there, Susanne Jaeggi and Martin Buschkuehl’s study on Improving Fluid Intelligence by Training Working Memory (PNAS April 2008) designed a brain exercise that increased mental agility (fluid intelligence) and short term memory by more than 40% in just 19 days.

I was so impressed that I contacted the research team and developed a software program using the same method so that anyone can achieve these improvements at home.
Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro

Martin
http://www.mindsparke.com
Effective, Affordable Brain Training Software