How do you “exercise” your brain?
While it’s not like other parts of your body that you can move or stretch physically, it seems like different “workouts” for the brain are popping up virtually everywhere lately.
So do they work?
Well, that’s what Rui Nouchi, PhD and a team of researchers in Tokyo, Japan wanted to find out when they examined whether one of these “brain games” affected the cognitive functions of young adults.
They specifically looked at Brain Age, a video game involving training exercises that engage the brain through reading and math exercises.
Participants were randomized to an experimental group (who played Brain Age) and an active control group (who played Tetris), and each group played their assigned game for 15 minutes a day, five times a week, for four weeks.
After they played the games, participants took note of their scores and the game performance data.
To test cognitive function, the researchers used a number of tests. For example, they used the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) to gauge cognitive flexibility, and the Stroop Task (ST) to measure response inhibition and impulsivity.
The researchers also used Operation Scans to test how the participants’ working memory improved after the four weeks. During this test, participants were asked to solve math problems while also remembering specific sets of words.
In total, 14 tests were administered.
So what did the researchers find?
After four weeks, the Brain Age group had better executive functions, working memory, and processing speed when compared with the Tetris group.
Now, while these results are promising for the use of brain training games as a way to exercise and strengthen the brain, it’s important to note that the study didn’t examine long term effects of the game play. Also, Brain Age is a multi-game program while Tetris is its own, stand-alone game. This could have played a role in the differing results.
Nonetheless, this study sheds light on ways we can give our brains an effective workout. And it gives us an idea of what kinds of activities have the most impact on how our brains function.
You can find more about this study in PLOS One.
If you’d like to find out more ways you can change your brain and think more clearly, learn more easily, strengthen your memory, and build better relationships, check out our webinar series on the Practical Brain Science. It’s a great place to start your journey towards a stronger, healthier brain and a bigger, more fulfilling life.
What types of brain training games have you tried – online or otherwise? How have they changed your life? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
Wow, that’s a really clever way of thikning about it!
You can do exercises at umifyg.com
” Beware. Brain-based enthusiasm for learning neuro education risks blinding people to its potentially limited efficacy” argues Steven ROSE.
When I have time i will read their new book :gens ,cells and brains :the prometheus promises of a new biology by Steven and hilary rose.
When they say that google search gives
– 50900 hits for neuro education
– 250000 hits for brain based learning …
It becomes difficult to know the truth about what is said for me and who benifits by this neuro industry?
Not a game, but physician colleague and I have been using Brainwave Optimization (from Brain State Technologies) and have found that it enhances whatever other activities one might be using to build new neural networks.
I signed up with lumosity. I know I am getting better with the games for sure….but whether or not it is helping me with things outside of the game….that I am not sure of. Have been playing for a few months now. I really enjoy playing the games and see the improvement I have seen.
I did Lumosity, and I did improve in my game scores, but I could see no evidence that there was any generalization of the alleged effects. I finally concluded that my improvement was due to practice effects only. Of course, an n of 1 isn’t really proof of anything, but I would like to see some well controlled studies on this game.
It was kind of fun.
I have tried Lumosity for the past few months and i have noticed i can remember things better. I am remembering numbers og greater ranges where in the past i would never remember anything more than a 3 digit number. Not sure about any other improvements but this one was noticed by Colleagues at work.
During 2013, I had a membership in Lumosity and played the series of games daily when I could, but never less than four times per week.
Since 2002, I have been part of a Cognitive Aging Study at UVA and when I tested this year, most all of their sessions seemed easier and my score was better than it had been before.
I like crossword puzzles as well.
I have been playing Scrabble daily with my husband for 18 months. Big difference to my memory. Also not using my Smartphone as much has helped enormously. However, for me, the Feldenkrais Method is one of the best things I’ve done for my brain and body as it combines movement with awareness and is excellent for exercising the grey matter. I always feel very young in mind and body after a class.
Dear Cherise Haslam,
I would like very much to know about Feldenkrais Method. Could yoiu tell me where or how to know more about it?
Thanks a lot
Brain Gym is a system of 26 easy and enjoyable physical activities that directly enhance brain function. Try it. It works for whatever goal you want to achieve.
I recently had both a car accident (which caused PTSS symptoms) followed 2 weeks later by a fall which resulted in a broken right wrist. As a “righty” it caused me to learn to write with my left hand and of course eat with it, brush my teeth, button pants, drive, etc.
I started seeing a therapist for my PTSS as my brain had become very fuzzy with very reduced retention & terrible recall. He suggested 15 mins. of word games, puzzles, etc. which I have not been doing regularly, although my brain has been feeling much better 7 weeks after my fall. I’m sure the meds from the surgery on 12/11 made it worse.
What I believe made the biggest difference was relying on my left side/right brain. Although I wouldn’t recommend breaking your dominant hand to anyone, I believe I am a changed person. My intuition feels stronger. I love feeling more ambidextrous and will continue to write with my left hand sometimes for fun as the pen feels more comfortable in it now and my lefty penmanship has improved greatly.
I can write with my right hand again for about a week now and can use one finger on the right hand to type with. Interestingly, my friends have commented on how my face is looking more symmetrical – my right eye has never looked as open and awake as my left eye, but it does now.
I’d love to hear comments about this phenomenon of using your non-dominant hand and if anyone has any research or opinions on it.
I have had a similar experience from a right wrist hairline fracture. Before the fall I was doing journal dialogues with God during prayer times. I was using my right hand even though it had been suggested to me that I do them with my non-dominate hand as this would bring out a deeper wisdom and connect me to a deeper intuitive awareness. I thought this notion of the left hand was of no importance. At the time of fall, I was finding these dialogues with my right hand so helpful that I did not want to stop doing them every day. So began using my left hand. Indeed I was wrong and after one month of writing with my left during dialogues, I never went back. I have not had the experience of the eye, but it is my right eye also that is weaker and not open as wide. Maybe I need to do more writing with my left hand as my prayer form has shifted away from writing. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Debbie,
Go to amazon.com and take a look into the next book page 33::
KEEP YOUR BRAIN ALIVE: 83 NEUROBIC EXERCISES
By llawrence Katz and Manning Rubin
And read also the endnotes the beneficial effects of neurothrophins/BDNF
But I am interested about the story about your eye !I saw today my lovely grandson of 4 months old and he has one eye i find is more little on his left side and he did not ope his hands so good and more difficult the right side.mum and baby had been in danger when he was born.
I found no on internet something about kiss syndrome.i am very worrying it could be that.
But i found it such a coincidence to read today also that by using the oposite hand as your bad eye your eye became better.
I am a retired a psychology professor, for over 30 years, and now play computer games almost every day. The time management games are the best for me and it feels like I’m at work. I also read novels and regularly practice meditation. I do recognize some memory decline. But I can still relax and have the item pop up. As time marches on we shall see. But my philosophy is breath deep and stay in the “Here and Now
What do you mean by time management games?
I’ve been a member of/participant in Lumosity for 3 years and find exponential benefit in many aspects of my life. For about 15 minutes a day, I a consciously engage my brain in activities that have “miraculously” infiltrated my daily interactions, endeavors and thoughts. I am increasing my verbal skills, listening fully, running “alternative scenarios” in my mind for a given situation, and remembering things and people easily. I’ve also been reading and listening to Zig Zigler, Darren Hardy, Jim Rohn, and Brian Tracy (to name a few) books to sharpen other skills and habits. All of this is weaving a web of improvement, enthusiasm and knowledge that is redefining my life experience. Did I mention that I love my life? I do!
I have been using Lumosity also for several months and my scores have been increasing to a point they are quite excellent for a 76 year old. I feel the Lumosity game training has improved my mental agility in numerous ways and I am glad to see that several others have posted favorable comments based on their use of Lumosity. It encourages me to keep up the effort. Thank you.
I’ve been skeptical of these claims, but it looks like some studies are showing a benefit.
I am going to keep an eye out for stronger evidence before I start recommending its use to my clients. I’m hoping larger, more conclusive studies are on their way!
I have been playing the Luminosity games for almost a year. I have only occasionally missed a day now and then. I am 90 years old and find the tasks stimulating. Except for those tasks requiring visual pattern memory, I have slowly improved my scores. I do sometimes have retrieval problems for specific names and sometimes for words but am otherwise intact and I believe the Luminosity tasks are helping me to stay alert.
I did play Tetris for awhile about 20 years ago. Four years ago I started learning to play the alto recorder with weekly lessons. I barely remembered the mnemonics for the lines and spaces. Within three months I was doing very basic sight reading. I’ve progressed steadily since then, and have been playing with a local gathering of recorder players monthly. We play all sorts of music. Learning to play recorder has changed my relationship with my mother. I rarely play for her, since from the get-go she has been very critical and wants a “Carnegie Hall” class of performance instantly. So, I just practice at least five days a week, and my darling husband really likes to listen as I do. Playing recorder has given me a sense of self-worth and resilience I hadn’t had. Practicing is my time for me alone. I need to give to myself as I give many volunteer hours to Master Gardeners.
I taught myself to type a few years ago from an online typing tutor. I’m not fast, but I don’t have to be. The practice now is to keep from looking at the keyboard. Practice, practice, practice.
While these aren’t games, they do make me work my hand, mind, eye coordination.
Anecdotal reports, though intriguing, are as notoriously inaccurate as self-reporting. I use an assessment tool from CNS-Vital Signs to do a baseline and progress checks. It uses a Stroop test, verbal and figures memory test, continuous performance attention test, psychomotor test, etc. You can get enough free uses as a trial to do an initial assessment and track your progress empirically by contacting them.
I also use qEEG brain maps to track brain changes. qEEGs are accepted as evidence in court and have successfully withstood challenges. A thorough review of literature including PubMed, NIH, etc. will indicate its value.
I have been using Lumosity for about a year now (not always consistently at the beginning but every day now that I have gotten into the habit of it). The games are actually fun, challenging, and interesting so I use them as a “break” when I have been working and want a diversion. They take about 10 minutes. My progress has been astounding… a lovely graph line that keeps reaching higher. Memory, speed, problem solving ability, flexibility, attention have all improved. Glad to know that there is research happening to quantify improvements. AND Lumosity has lots of brain info and research on their site. I just noticed that there are 7 posted studies on Lumosity on the site.
I have been journalling for many years and for 2 years now I have a blog. Writing and posting articles on my block keeps me very alert and busy. (The link is: honeyrosa-memorablethoughts.blogspot.nl)
Almost anything that exercises the prefrontal cortex is good. Focused trainng using neurofeedback (brainwave biofeedback) games has a proven track record in the research literature (NIH, military, etc.). Check the bibliography at ISNR.org.
I have played a brain game called Luminosity for more than a year. It has math, problem solving, inhibition and other skills. I have improved alot. Joann
My doc told me i am experiencing “Chemo Brain” from the drugs i was on. Symptoms include attention deficit and memory problems. i saw the adds for lumosity and signed up 2 weeks ago. i do find i get better at playing the games, but at this point it is too early to tell if it will be useful.
I imagine there are many like me that have cognitive difficulties following a disease and its treatment. Seems like the application of these computer based games could open up a whole new area for the social workers and psychologists to help people like me.
Hi Fred,
BrainHQ has games specifically developed for people with “Chemo Brain”. You might want to give
them a try. I believe you can try them for free.
Good luck with your treatment.
Elaine
I started Lumosity about two months ago and I love it, I do believe it is helping me. I try to do it
daily on my lap top and also on my ipad.
I play lumosity games every day and have definitely experienced an improvement in memory, speed of thinking, calculating, attention etc. I do believe that this multi-faceted way of exercising the brain works to improve brain functioning.
A brain game a day keeps the doctor at bay. !!! Brain games are a wonderful way to give back to society. Pick a stranger and play!
My mother suffered from early onset dementia, so my sister and I have always done many things:
1. We read voraciously
2. We do brain and logic puzzles.
3. We journal one way or the other, by keeping a diary or gratitude journal.
4. We maintain social relationships
5. We always keep learning something
This keeps us engaged, and I think this is the most important thing; when you take ANY part of you for granted, you can lose a lot.
I first heard about brain training at a workshop with Dan Siegel, MD & Norman Doidge, MD, both prominent practicing psychiatrists who have done years of study in ths area. I do three different brain training games, Lumosity, FitBrains, and BrainHQ, which is the new name for a combination of games developed by Posit Science. Posit Science’s are the first games I tried as a result of reading about the company in Dr Doidge’s book, “The Brain That Changes Itself”, about the neuroplasticity of the brain.
While I haven’t kept records of my progress over the last several years, I still see a full caseload of clients, am well over 65, and feel pretty sharp overall. Plus all of the games allow you to track your progress and let you know how you compare to others in your age range. BrainHQ just sent out a notice that there is new research out of Japan supporting brain training….believe there’s a link on their site. I’m a firm believer in brain training, and there is research out there if you have the time and motivation to find it. Elaine
Hi. I have had Brain Age for several years and there is no question it improves my brain function. If I skip it for awhile, it’s clear I have! Jumping back into it again, I find I’ve slipped A LOT… as if my brain has become VERY lazy. To restore my ability to concentrate, to focus, is a real workout… takes a deliberate effort to discipline my “head” to stick it out and follow through with “games” that had previously become “simple exercises”… a piece of cake. I’m 72 and when I do the Brain Age drill every day, my calculated “brain age” is usually in the low 20’s; however, if I don’t do it for awhile… My mind is definitely scattered and my brain “ages” to mid-to-high 60’s. I particularly notice it in the area where I’m given a number of words to study for two minutes, they go away and I have to write down as many of them as I can remember in a little over a minute. Yikes! My memory shows the lack of exercise! That scares me! So? I will make sure to do Brain Age every day and I think I’ll finally check to see if there are any similarly effective DS games (any suggestions are welcome); if so, I’ll invest in them. Such “play” is fun AND helpful.
I will be trying Luminosity for the first time today. I will monitor my progress daily with a chart that will mark my emotional state before and after each session as well as seeing if my memory improves. I have had E C T twice and my memory has be challenged since. I hear say that it takes 21 days to change a habit so I will take the experiment on for 28 days. An extra week for good measure. I will forgo the other techniques I use, on a daily basis, such as Tapping and meditation. I have been working on impulse control so this will tell me if this works for that at least. If nothing else, I will have gained a month of doing something regularly and that in itself is a bonus for me.
Universal Blessings to all
What a very proactive, interactive way to check in on yourself, Suzanne. I’ve been using Lumosity for 3 years and have experienced so much change in…MY LIFE! I wish you very well. Enjoy the journey, sincerely! Jesse
I have been following the new wave of Brain Scan assessment which is very appealing to the general public. NASA, I understand is also working on a computerized video game study that can be used for children suspected of having ADHD. However, NASA is doing research on that topic before they will sponsor it. Another Brain Scan technique, like Neurofeedback is being used by some psychologists known as LENS, developed by Dr. AMen. However, the scans using EEG technology while it cannot cause harm to the person, The Neurological Society and Neurological Association had cautioned that the technology, due to its limitations, can cause false-positive results, leading to interpretations that can be inaccurate. There are no present research that can answer John’s questions. The Brain is a very compliex organ with very intricate neural networks intersecting with other parts of the brain. John, is right, the jury hasn’t even been assembled yet.
I have done both Tetris and the Brainage test for years. At 75 I am feeling in top shape and have no idea what does what to what :o) But it is all good!
Good eating habits and exercise can’t have hurt.
I am also an artist and would like to know and compare what painting for example does to the brain compared to electronic games and exercises.
I have used drawing ( right side brain activity ) and Zentangle = meditative drawing that is not result oriented, but uses the activity for focus and meditation.
My question is: do we know which brain area is being stimulated be these games and trainings and can we achieve a balance between left and right brain. I find that this is the most important part in any brain training, because it results in a great feeling of well being, which is why we do this stuff in the first place isn’t it ?.
Hello Atmo. Yes. This is why we do this stuff in the first place….. Check out Brain Gym 3 day rotation for the Integration of body and mind. Basically you learn simple movements that encourage balancing right and left hemispheres of the brain. And it’s fun!
Thank you for mentioning ZENTANGLE ,I never heard from this technique and meditationform before.
I did what research on internet and it seems something I would like to do very much.i visited different drawingshops and bookshops but they didn’t knew it either.I found only one persoN in my country who has followed the lessons by the creators of it in America.I hope to follow a basic workshop soon.
I’ve used both BrainHQ and Lumosity, both claiming demonstrated benefits, that is, that they work. Some specific questions that need to be answered are about the specific benefits, whether they’re retained, and do they generalize beyond the specific game. For example, Lumosity has a game, Color Match, in which a correct response is matching the name of a color in the left column with its appearance on the right. The stated outcome is response inhibition or impulse control. I’ve gotten faster and more accurate as I’ve played the game, but whether it translates to life experience is another matter. I think the proverbial jury is still out on those kinds of questions.
Another big question is whether games have an effect on general intelligence. Thus far — and I’ve not yet read the research Ruth mentioned — only n-back tasks appear to have demonstrated that outcome.
I do Luminosity. I am not sure if they help to improve the brain or not
I do Lumosity but I don’t do it every day but my performance has improved on the games and according to Lumosity I have improved. I just need to remember to do it everyday. The games are fun and some I find quite hard but it can’t hurt. The sudoku I play every day and I have progressed from easy, to medium and now to the hard ones. Yay!!
Hello, I haven’t done any brain training as yet.
I am 65 years old and have had some serious health issues which have cleared up but left me feeling”brain weak”, so now its time to tune up a bit,
I have a very old computer, and slow internet access that doesn’t do videos et al so prefer the written word.
Thanks so much, Yours
Erica
I prefer the written word too. A hand written Thankyou note is the best. Almost exempt these days.
Have a great day!
There is reading material that maybe does the same thing I suspect. I do not know much about it, but try reading the book, Spacecruiser Inquiry: True Guidance for the Inner Journey, by A.H Almaas.