Improving the Parts, Helping the Whole?
One of the crucial questions for brain-training programs is whether or not the specific skills emphasized during training, such as improved auditory perception, actually generalize to other cognitive abilities. In other words, will practicing auditory perception lead to improved visual perception? And how long do training effects persist?
According to Sherry Willis and colleagues at Pennsylvania State University brain exercises that focus on training reasoning skills do translate into long-lasting improvements in daily life. The team looked at the effects of three non-computerized cognitive training modules (designed to narrowly target memory, reasoning, or processing speed skills) versus a no-contact control group in a sample of 2,832 cognitively-intact elders. The subjects received 10 one-hour sessions plus a booster at months 11 and 35. Surprisingly, at two years, there was no benefit on daily activities. But after five years the group trained in reasoning showed better performance on daily activities (an effect that was made more noticeable by the fact that some in the control group showed a decline). These results suggest that a short training session plus periodic boosters may induce long-lasting cognitive and functional benefits—sort of a “teaching a person to fish for life” effect.
Where Do We Stand Now?
The typical consumer of brain-training programs is part of the “worried well,” a group of individuals with normal brains but significant concerns about cognitive decline that comes with aging. Should you decide to try one or more commercially sold brain games, be forewarned that you may not see big improvements in your scores if you are already cognitively fit—a phenomenon referred to as the ceiling effect—or you may may max out soon due to frustration or boredom. And remember that despite their promises, no computerized brain fitness program has yet been proven to prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s disease or even to make brain cells any younger at a biological level. Improving your computer-determined “brain age” to a 29-year-old’s level will certainly give you a mental workout (and a nice ego trip!) but is currently about as well proven to reduce your risk for future memory loss as learning to hit a golf swing like Tiger Woods.
A related question is whether doctors can use brain games in ways analogous to cardiac rehab programs, to help people who already suffer from a mild memory disorder. The pioneering early work of psychiatrist David Loewenstein and colleagues at the University of Miami has demonstrated that a skills training cognitive rehab program (practicing skills such as paying bills, counting change and associating names with faces) helped individuals with early stage Alzheimer’s disease to improve on the tasks the were trained on, at least initially and for three months after the targeted intervention was completed. These benefits, though likely to degrade quickly in the face of a progressive dementia, certainly compare favorably to what has been shown with any commercial brain game.
Why Not Just Play Bridge?
Several studies have already demonstrated that exercise and socialization in later life have positive effects on cognition, and both of these are as easy as taking a walk and calling a friend. Even the simple act of practicing juggling for a week increases gray matter in brain areas involved in visual and motor activity (even if you never become very good at juggling!). What, then, is the rationale for using expensive brain games, which are essentially solitary activities that require you to shell out the bucks, sit on your gluteus maximus, stare at a screen and exercise little more than your index finger as it pushes the button on the mouse? The immediate answer is that we don’t know. We simply cannot say that brain games are better than activities such as learning a new language because no one has done those sorts of scientific comparisons. But perhaps both the hype and the promise (not to mention those tongue-firmly-in-cheek slogans) combined with a little personal financial investment is just what someone needs to find the right motivation to train their brain in a systematic manner. Think about how more effective it is to pay for a gym membership and feel obligated to go (especially when your trainer is also fit and attractive) compared with sitting in your garage alone in front of a bunch of dumbbells. On the other hand, maybe brain games lead to unnecessary frustration, boredom or even added isolation.
One thing remains clear: there is no serious harm to brain training other than the effect on your wallet (and the risk of some egg on your face if your seven-year old can play them better). And evidence is accumulating that they not only improve the skills they are designed to help, but likely generalize to other cognitive abilities and have some long-lasting benefits. If you’re working at them now, we advise you to keep it up! Perhaps computerized brain training will eventually evolve into a form of cyber-vaccine, in which socially-networked multiplayer training sessions every year will keep our brains forever young. In the meantime, you can get cheaper and easily accessed brain benefits the old-fashioned way: eat your fruits and vegetables, exercise, don’t be afraid to try new activities and be a social butterfly. Your brain will really thank you!
Are you a scientist? Have you recently read a peer-reviewed paper that you want to write about? Then contact Mind Matters editor Jonah Lehrer, the science writer behind the blog The Frontal Cortex and the book Proust Was a Neuroscientist. His latest book is How We Decide.
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21 Comments
Add CommentThe combined results from these studies, as one would expect, show some modest improvements in the trained functions of these otherwise neurologically intact "elderly" subjects. Also, it should not be too surprising that there is some measurable improvment in general cognitive skills as well.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHowever, instead of goofy, sedentary video programing, my Rx for seniors is to remain BOTH mentally and physically active. IMO, the "unexamined life" is truly not worth living. As a practicing faculty physician of 61 years, I have taken up several "intellectual persuits"... from neuroscience to scientific Naturalism... and playing the banjo, not to mention working out regularly as well as playing tennis, both singles and doubles. The profession of medicine is a LIFELONG learning process that I assure you, escpecially if you are tasked with teaching residents, will keep your brain function sharp.
The brain is a big consumer of O2 and nutrients... and exercise is vital to maintain a healthy circulation... not to mention a general sense of well-being. Of course, the earlier in life one develops the habit of regular exercise and a reasonably nutritious diet, the better.
The point here is GET INTERESTED in some aspect of life... become passionate about SOMETHING. Learn a new skill set... try to master a subject or learn about a topic that you were interested in during your misspent youth, that you now have time to seriously reflect upon.
Chuck the stale games.. and play life for real, eh?
Cheers!
Scientists now know that when we're children our learning brains are turned "on" by default. As we get older our brains only turn on in response to fairly intensive stimuli. Brain exercise can produce new brain cells and change the structure of the brain. This isn't hypothesis. Scientists from the Karolinska Institutet showed it with brain scans. And scientists last year designed a training program for working memory (dual n-back) that increased the fluid intelligence of the participants - by 40%!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood news for those of us willing to put in the effort.
Martin Walker
www.mindsparke.com
I've been reading intense math, several complex variables, theory of partial differential equations, and I notice myself being more lively in conversations with people when doing it. When I do a lot of concentrated hard thinking, it wakes up my mind.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt isn't the same as the speed-thinking that I bet the games emphasize. That might be complementary.
I've been reading intense math, several complex variables, theory of partial differential equations, and I notice myself being more lively in conversations with people when doing it. When I do a lot of concentrated hard thinking, it wakes up my mind.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt isn't the same as the speed-thinking that I bet the games emphasize. That might be complementary.
I'm sure that the "Brain Boosting" programs increase cognitive function. However, I predict that the positive test results should be attributed to the participants' increased interest in pursuing their own cognitive development, OUTSIDE THE TEST.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDoesn't ADD/ADHD fall under this category?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this1. Find some 'Mission' of interest
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisE.g.: "To learn a topic in math"; "To purchase a new house"; "To double my income in 1 year"; etc, etc (DON'T wish on the moon, don't take up a Mission that your own mind tells you may be unrealistic e.g. "To become as wealthy as Bill Gates" would surely be, in my opinion, rather unrealistic).
2. Ask yourself the following Trigger Questions about your Mission, call it 'M':
i) "What, in your opinion, are the THINGS TO DO to accomplish M?"
ii) What, in your opinion, are the BARRIERS/ DIFFICULTIES/ THREATS / WEAKNESSES that may hinder or prevent accomplishment of M?
iii) What, in your opinion, are the STRENGTHS you possess that could help you accomplish M?
iv) What, in your opinion, are the OPPORTUNITIES available that could help you accomplish M?
...
You get several lists:
THINGS TO DO
BARRIERS/ DIFFICULTIES / THREATS /WEAKNESSES
STRENGTHS
OPPORTUNITIES.
Take up, for a beginning, the THINGS TO DO two by two and ask yourself:
"Does TTD 1 "contribute to" TTD 2?
... etc, etc...
The relationship "contributes to" is transitive. Use this transitivity property to construct graphical models quite efficiently that would include all the elements you have thought of.
Then you add elements to that fundamental model in the THINGS TO DO Dimension to show how you can overcome the BARRIERS, etc, avail the OPPORTUNITIES, etc, use the STRENGTHS most effectively.... (and so on).
There are some very well defined step-by-step methods to help you create those models. Write to me at gs (underscore) chandy (at) yahoo (dot) com and I shall be happy to send you, more information on how you can construct those models, the fundamental systems science behind them, and so on.
The thinking involved in creating those real-life models' are the very best brain exercises I know of to keep your mind supple and well-exercised.
GSC
(I shall also be happy to make freely available some useful software that will help you keep records of your progress towards your Mission, construct the models using the transitivity properties of various relationships, etc, etc.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGSC
I shall also be happy to provide, freely, some basic (but necessarily limited) guidance on:
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this-- how to interpret the models you make
-- "what to do next" at various stages of model development, etc...
GSC
Like many things, wanting to remember better stimulates one to remember better. Do the researchers sort test subjects by those wanting to do better and those who are indifferent or do not want to do better?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSeems any attempt to improve brain function improves brain function, nice when fun stuff like games is recognized as helpful.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSeems any attempt to improve brain function improves brain function, nice when fun stuff like games is tooted as helpful.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have been working in the brain fitness space since 2001 and we have come along way. There has been significant scientific studies over the last 5 years that illustrate how we can maintain and develop our cognitive skills through our lifespan. Our company has started to launch pilots that provide more efficacy to our software. I truly believe the next 5 years will see a lot of positive developments in this area.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMichael
www.fitbrains.com
Great minds like a think !
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGeoffrey Kaye
Perth, Australia
2009
I concur with Michael. There are a lot of recent developments that are making this space really exciting. People are coming together to make sure that the science is pushed to maximize efficacy. This year’s SharpBrains Summit is a great start and the future looks bright.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMichael Rucker
http://www.happy-neuron.com
From my experience brain games slightly improve cognition, ı exercised for a year with lumosity and dual and back, reached this conclusion. I have a blog ı write about ways of improving brain, have a look.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://improveyourbrainimproveyourlife.blogspot.com/
I feel my attention to details in my environment has sharpened, my memory has improved and my response time to cues like traffic signs seems faster.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishttp://www.newgraduatenursingjobs.net
Came across this site called http://braingymmer.com
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAll games are developed on neuroscientific research, it seems pretty nice.
I feel like it's working for me, but even if it isn't, it's pretty fun to do anyways. Just a suggestion though.
Give it a try if you're interested.
okay, this may sound trivial.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPrograms like lumosity make you play games over months, to show any actual improvement.
So when you play a mind game over and over again, you become more familiar with it, that gives you more control, confidence, general understanding of how the game is supposed to work, right, so its easy to see that your performance increases.
So, my question, does it really mean that your memory or cognitive abilities are absolutely improving?
,meaning are you reallt better at, when you play a similar kind of game(same difficulty & basic processing) but in different setup, or various applications of the congitive functions that you are training?
anyone any inputs, you are really helping me.
okay, this may sound trivial.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPrograms like lumosity make you play games over months, to show any actual improvement.
So when you play a mind game over and over again, you become more familiar with it, that gives you more control, confidence, general understanding of how the game is supposed to work, right, so its easy to see that your performance increases.
So, my question, does it really mean that your memory or cognitive abilities are absolutely improving?
,meaning are you reallt better at, when you play a similar kind of game(same difficulty & basic processing) but in different setup, or various applications of the congitive functions that you are training?
anyone any inputs, you are really helping me.
okay, this may sound trivial.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPrograms like lumosity make you play games over months, to show any actual improvement.
So when you play a mind game over and over again, you become more familiar with it, that gives you more control, confidence, general understanding of how the game is supposed to work, right, so its easy to see that your performance increases.
So, my question, does it really mean that your memory or cognitive abilities are absolutely improving?
,meaning are you reallt better at, when you play a similar kind of game(same difficulty & basic processing) but in different setup, or various applications of the congitive functions that you are training?
anyone any inputs, you are really helping me.