Posts Tagged ‘brain training’

Medical Grade Neurofeedback at Home for $995

Neurofeedback is one of the most promising techniques we have for improving brain function and cognitive performance through systematic training. As we have discussed on the Next Brain Blog before:

Neurofeedback training devices translate brainwaves into an external signal such sounds, graphs on a computer screen, movement of your computer’s cursor, action in a video game and even the motion of remote controlled toys.

Getting access to professional grade equipment can be very expensive. Consumer devices such as Neurosky’s headset or Emotiv’s EPOC (both of which I own) cost just a few hundred dollars but have limited functionality.

The market might be changing.

ICAP Technologies is offering the ICAP Release Meter, a professional grade neurofeedback system for $995.  To get this price you need to use the coupon code available on the Mindware Forum.  The Mindware Forum offers a good review of ICAP including a video interview.

Interested to hear from readers that have used the ICAP system or any at-home EEG-based neurofeedback training device.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - May 18, 2010 at 3:02 pm

Categories: Manage Emotions, Memory and Learning, Mental Focus, Software, Training   Tags: ,

Benchmark Your Cognitive Fitness with Precision

According to a recent press release, Happy Neuron, a brain training  company has amassed a database of some 50 million training results. This is the biggest database of its kind and allows them to compare your cognitive training results to peers more precisely than anyone else on the market.

Happy Neuron uses games to train your brain.  They have games for attention, language, memory, visual-spatial and executive function.

I am interested to hear from readers that use Happy Neuron’s products.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - May 9, 2010 at 10:44 pm

Categories: Executive Function, Memory and Learning, Software, Training   Tags: ,

Neurobics: Low-Effort Cognitive Stimulation!

Neurobics is a unique approach to brain training developed from the latest findings in neurobiology.  According to one popular approach, Keeping Your Brain Alive, the core idea is this:

“Neurobic exercises use your five physical senses and your emotional sense in unexpected ways and encourage you to shake up your everyday routines. Neurobics don’t require paper and pen or isolating yourself with puzzles. Everyday life is the Neurobic Brain gym. They can be done anywhere, anytime in offbeat, fun and easy ways while you’re getting up, commuting, working, eating, shopping or relaxing. They are designed to help the brain manufacture its own nutrients that strengthen, preserve and grow brain cells.”

Some examples:

  • Take a different route when commuting to work this morning
  • Brush your teeth with the other hand
  • Use just the sense of touch when unlocking a door (don’t look at the lock)
  • Move your waste basket at work
  • Sit someone different at the dinner table tonight

Tiny changes with a significant and positive neurochemical impact. Any exercise can be Neurobic as long as it involves your senses in a new context, demands attention and breaks routine.  This means we can design our own! The Keep Your Brain Alive Program was developed by Larry Katz a well-known Duke University Neurobiologist and includes 83 very specific things to try.

Interested to hear from readers that do Neurobics.  What exercises do you do and how have you built them into your daily routine?

2 comments - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - May 6, 2010 at 12:17 am

Categories: Books, Cognitive Decline, Lifestyle, Manage Emotions, Mental Focus, Perception   Tags: ,

Brain Training Software Fails Key Scientific Test

Last year the BBC in collaboaration with leading neuroscientists conducted a large-scale scientific test of brain training software. They wanted to answer the question – does brain training software work?

The study recruited over 11,000 healthy adults of all ages and had them train their brains using software 3 times per week for 6 weeks.  The results were negative.

Those that did the brain training showed no cognitive improvement  beyond what you get from surfing the internet for the same period of time.

Scores on the tests provided by the brain training software did improve but none of that translated into better cognitive performance on tasks outside the software.  This held up for a wide range of cognitive activities including reasoning, planning, problem-solving, short-term memory, attention, visual spatial processing and mathematics.

This is a landmark study that calls the relative effectiveness of brain trainig software into question. To quote the study:

The results are truly amazing. The Brain Test Britain study found no evidence that the benefits of playing brain training games transfer to other brain skills. (However, the results do suggest that further research into brain trainers aged 60 and over is required. Dr Adrian Owen (pictured to the right) said: “The result is crystal clear. Brain training is only as good as spending six weeks using the internet. There is no meaningful difference.”

You can review the findings, look at the details behind the work and even play the games that were used for the training at UK Lab. They are continuing the study with participants that are 60 years and older.

I am interested to hear from readers that do regular software-based braining training exercises. What do you think of this study? Will it change your brain training routine?

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - April 21, 2010 at 11:41 pm

Categories: Executive Function, Memory and Learning, Mental Focus, Perception, Software, Training   Tags:

A Store Just for Your Brain

Marbles is a store just for your brain. They have four locations in Illinois and are looking to expand. Fortunately, their products are available online.

They offer an overview of brain fitness, a free self assessment and products to improve memory, critical thinking, coordination,  word skills and visual perception.  They provide books, brain software, toys and novelty items from many different vendors. Marbles takes the time to make gift bundles for the Wordsmith, Trickster, Creative Genius, Brainetics (whatever that is) and others. They offer some free Brain Coaching and sponsor a number of interesting events.

Marbles could well be a superstore for anyone looking to improve brain function and cognitive performance. They will be the subject of regular posts on the Next Brain Blog. I am interested to hear from readers that have visited one of the store locations.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - at 2:35 am

Categories: Books, Cognitive Decline, Decision Making, Memory and Learning, Perception, Software, Training   Tags: ,

Smart Phone Apps for Boosting Your Brain

A reader suggested Brain Boost, a new iPhone app.

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Like to hear from readers that use this or other apps designed to improve cognitive performance.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - April 12, 2010 at 9:28 pm

Categories: Manage Emotions, Mental Focus, Software   Tags: , ,

Working Memory Training

Working memory loads and processes the information we can pay attention to at any given time.  It is has a limited capacity (4-9 pieces of information) and it does not last long (3-20 seconds). Technically working memory is different but related to short-term memory.  It involves the control and attentional processes for manipulating the information. Some experts call it the search engine of the brain:

“Working Memory is an essential cognitive function that allows us to keep information in mind, manipulate it, and use it in our thinking. It is the way that we process the onslaught of information that we encounter every day.”

A simple thing but clearly it plays a major role how well we perform all manner of mental activities. Techniques for improving working memory will be a frequent topic on the Next Brain Blog.

One program that has seen some real success is Cogmed. This is a neuroscience-based program that is geared to age group and goal.  The program uses software, is coach-guided for first few weeks and has a self administered maintenance phase.  They have a high completion rate,  many specific success stories and are backed by clinical studies.

I am interested to hear from readers that have used Cogmed or other working memory training programs to achieve peak cognitive performance.

Source:  Image of Brain

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - April 8, 2010 at 3:52 pm

Categories: Executive Function, Mental Focus, Software, Training   Tags:

Double Dip: Take A Ride on the Brain Bike

Physical exercise, especially cardio,  is good technique for improving brain function. There is no doubt about that. So is specially designed cognitive training software that gives your brain a workout by solving problems, meeting perceptual  challenges and even playing games.  Imagine combining the two – exercising while working with cognitive training software – to get a double dose  of brain training in a single session. That is exactly what the NeuroActive Bike does.

Combing their NeuroActive cognitive training software with an exercise bike the Brain Center of America is the first to introduce a brain bike.

They are available in some health clubs in France, the US and Canada.  Here is a list.  A few schools in the US are introducing them.  For example, I found this story and photo (to the right) about Madison School in Naperville, Illinois.

I have not seen any studies on the effectiveness of this type of double dipping but will keep an eye out.  In the meantime I am interested to hear from readers that have taken a ride on the Brain Bike.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - April 6, 2010 at 12:25 am

Categories: Cognitive Decline, Lifestyle, Memory and Learning, Mental Focus, Perception, Software, Training   Tags: , ,

How Fast Do You Think? Should You Care?

The speed at which your brain processes information is a fundamental measure of cognitive efficiency. Faster processing speeds have been linked to more effective intelligence, memory formation and even longevity. In short, the faster you think the smart you are! Happily,  you can easily measure, and with practice improve, your thinking speed. Tools and techniques for increasing the speed of thought will be a frequent topic on the Next Brain Blog.

One way to get started is to take the Thinking Speed Test at Cognitive Labs.  You need to go through a brief registration but it is worth it. They give you a short reaction time test and some handy feedback. You can even track your performance over time.

Try it out and post your results. Especially interested in what techniques you are using to improve it. My initial score was 241 milliseconds.

Source: Image of the Brain

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - April 4, 2010 at 12:21 am

Categories: IQ and EQ, Memory and Learning, Perception, Software, Training   Tags: , , ,

Using Neurofeedback to Train Your Mind

Neurofeedback training devices translate brainwaves into an external signal such sounds, graphs on a computer screen, movement of your computer’s cursor, action in a video game and even the motion of remote controlled toys. Being able to hear or see your brainwaves in this way provides essential feedback for learning how to control them to improve mental focus, modulate your mood and sharpen your thinking.

Neurofeedback has been proven to work in a clinical setting. You can go to a therapist and in about 10 weeks achieve some real results. A typical setup is shown to the left.

Devices for use by consumers at home are starting to hit the market.   There are general purpose brain computer interfaces (BCI) such as the EPOC headset from Emotiv. It sells for $300 and comes with some basic games.

The only other consumer-level BCI I am aware of is being sold by Neurosky. It is cheaper ($199) but it comes with a single sensor versus the 14 for EPOC.   The Neurosky technology is being used to develop mind-controlled toys. Check out Mattel’s Mindflex below.

It is not clear if the at-home neuofeedback devices are producing results or if they even work well.   Consumer reviews tend to be mixed.  For example,  Mindflex Game  has 58 customer reviews on Amazon:

  • 5 star (14)
  • 4 star (18)
  • 3 star (8)
  • 2 star (6)
  • 1 star (12)

No matter, as the technology improves there can be little doubt that neurofeedback devices will become a powerful force for improving our cognitive performance.  Brain computer interfaces, mind controlled toys and video games as well as other consumer-level neurofeedback devices will be covered frequently in the Next Brain Blog.

I am very interested to hear from readers that use neurofeedback in a clinical setting or at home. Please leave a comment and share your experiences.

Source: Image of Brainwaves and clinical use of Neurofeedback.

1 comment - What do you think?  Posted by Mark Clare - March 19, 2010 at 7:22 pm

Categories: Executive Function, Mental Focus, Perception, Software, Training   Tags: , , , ,

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