Brain Health and Cognitive Fitness For Life
On these pages, you'll learn about brain training, a structured approach to mental stimulation using software-based programs.
This type of mental activity is still in its infancy, so there is much to learn and opinions differ as to its effectiveness. However, there are a growing number of products on the market. You'll learn their pros and cons and how brain training claims to work.
Differences in substance and style determine how successful a program will be for you. Compare these five programs and pick the right one. Here are my impressions of five of the more well-known programs - Lumosity, Anti-Aging Games, Posit Science, Dakim BrainFitness, and DaisyBrains. You'll see that all training programs are not created equal and no one program is right for everyone.
Most resolutions enhance brain health and improving cognitive fitness actually makes it easier to keep your resolutions. It's positive feedback. Unfortunately, almost all resolutions fail, but your brain is also malleable and is always capable of changing, if you help it along. Here are six powerful ways to retrain your brain to make it more likely you'll stick with your New Year’s resolutions.
If you have only 20 minutes to spare each day to work on your brain, which should you choose - brain training or meditation? It depends. Of course the brain does need continual mental challenge to stay fit, but not everyone needs a brain training program to keep their brain stimulated. If you often feel stressed out or have mentally demanding days, you are a good candidate for meditation instead.
Biofeedback can help you gain control of your body and your health. With the right device, it can now be done effectively at home. Biofeedback has successfully been used to treat numerous conditions. One of the big drawbacks to using biofeedback is that it can be expensive and time-consuming when done professionally. Now there are portable do-it-yourself devices available so you can get the benefits of biofeedback for about the cost of one session with a therapist.
Users of brain training programs have reported surprising benefits beyond improved memory, mental clarity, and focus. Brain training done right offers many additional and some surprising benefits. Here are the most commonly cited benefits that go beyond memory improvement.
Posit Science claims its software will have you thinking faster, focusing better, and remembering more. Here are my impressions of the products. Auditory is Posit Science's original brain training program. It was developed to improve memory and concentration by focusing on the auditory part of your brain. InSight works on how well you take in, process, and remember information that you see.
Not all computer games are brain games. Neural science principles turn these mind games into real brain training, helping memory, attention and more. Let's look at what some of the experts in the field have to say about the rationale and research that goes into developing games that actually help the brain.
Brain games can keep your memory sharp by challenging your brain. Learn the wide range available and how to choose and use the right ones. You need to constantly shake things up a bit to keep your brain challenged to create new neural pathways. Brain games are an excellent way to do that, in a way that feels more like fun than work.
Lumosity is an online brain training system designed to improve your memory, focus and other mental abilities. Here are my impressions. Lumosity could be helpful for those who want to improve their memory and ability to focus, but its target audience is people under 35, a group that is least affected by cognitive issues. I think many of their customers consider this a "good for you" way to play video games rather than for genuine brain enhancement.