Does Brain Training Actually Work? Fact or Fiction

Brain training programs usually center around playing a mentally challenging game at which the user becomes better and better at winning, over time. This process boosts the user’s cognitive function – or so the story goes.

Some software like Brain Age is geared toward keeping older brains active while others like Lumosity claim they can improve anyone’s cognitive faculties, regardless of age.

Critics of brain training software maintain the only thing you get better at is playing the game, but creators of the more popular software programs say they have pages of studies and thousands of people with improved test scores to support the validity of their claims.

Does brain training really work? Why not just do Sudoku or crosswords? Can we gain intelligence by playing games over and over? Do improved test scores mean anything besides being better at the game? Can the improved mental or cognitive abilities transfer over to our everyday cognitive reasoning and functioning?

Here we will take a look at the brain training conundrum and try to determine if they are worth our time and effort.

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The Program Format

Playing World of Warcraft probably doesn’t add many points to your IQ.

However, repeatedly performing a task does create noticeable improvements in our abilities to perform that specific activity.

For example, repeatedly playing the violin creates, over time, noticeable improvements in our musical ability. Brain training games are based on a similar logic. Developers of brain training programs take the concept of “game” and use it to try to create more neuroplasticity within our brains.

The idea is that you can boost your fluid intelligence and the general ability of your brain to think and learn by being presented with various mental challenges.

The games are developed specifically to challenge our brains. This, they say, leads to the creation of new connections or pathways, thereby keeping the brain young, nimble, adaptable and plastic.

Some of the more prominent brain training programs available include Lumosity and Cambridge Brain Sciences. These games are based on providing the user with feedback loops and motivation incentives. They are designed to keep you practicing over and over in order to improve your scores. With practice, nearly everyone’s “game IQ” or “brain age” improves and, theoretically, their overall IQ improves as well.

Nootropic users sometimes use one of the many free brain training programs to gauge any increases in their neuroplasticity and reasoning ability over time. Taking a baseline test at the beginning of a smart drug regimen, then working with the brain training software for a period of 2-6 months, can offer the user quantifiable results (or non-results) of the supplement or regimen with which the user is experimenting.

It is also conceivable that taking brain supplements while using a Brain Training program could amplify the benefits and generate faster results.

The Games

Cambridge Brain Sciences (http://www.cambridgebrainsciences.com/) is a free brain training program which offers a suite of tests in four primary testing categories. These are Reasoning, Concentration, Memory and Planning. Each category has several tests from which the user can choose.

Once a test is completed, your results are shown in comparison to all other users, allowing you to see where you initially fall. Users are able to return to any given test to try to improve their scores.

One key to measuring your progress with any brain training program is to determine if your improvements on one particular test can be extrapolated to real-life cognitive tasks. With Cambridge Brain Sciences you can do this, somewhat, by taking a different test within the same category.

For example, one test that Brain Hackers often use in the Reasoning category is called “Odd One Out”. Let’s say you have taken the test a total of 8 times and you have significantly improved your standing in comparison with other testers. Now, try another test in the Reasoning category called “Double Trouble”.

If your overall reasoning capacity has improved (and not just your reasoning capacity for this one test), your initial scoring of the new test should be higher than your first scoring of “Odd One Out”.

Lumosity

Lumosity (http://www.lumosity.com/) is currently the most popular fee-for-service brain training program. The program is set up around five categories: speed, memory, attention, flexibility, and problem solving.

With some additional input from you (about your preferences), and also taking into account your age, Lumosity designs an individualized program for you. Modules take about 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can jump to additional tests which are not included in your personalized program.

Luminosity provides an entire section on their website showing research which they feel provides evidence for brain training, and in particular, Lumosity brain training.

Brain Training and Nootropics

Marked improvement in fluid intelligence should be able to be demonstrated in your overall cognitive ability, not just with the test you have taken nine times. Many people and scores of studies back up the science of brain training programs, though not everyone is in agreement.

Nootropic users often find brain training software useful when quantifying results of specific supplements or stacks. Those just starting a brain training program may find their results are increased if combined with cognitive enhancing supplements which promote synaptic plasticity. A simple regimen of Piracetam plus Citicoline should produce viable results.

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