When I mention the words "brain training" more often than not I get a puzzled look. Despite all the hoopla in certain circles, brain training hasn't get hit the big time. This makes it a great gift idea for that "difficult to buy for" loved one in your life.
Do you know someone who loves puzzles, craves mental stimulation, and likes a challenge? Good brain training software not only meets these requirements but can also improve a person's ability to solve those puzzles and meet those mental challenges, making it doubly rewarding.
But brain training software isn't just for the brainy sort. You may have a loved one who has begun to forget things or worries about the inevitable mental decline that comes with aging. Although you'll have to consider whether the gift will be appreciated in the spirit it's given, buying a brain training program for someone in this category may be the most loving gift you could give.
Although it's not yet a household phenomenon, brain training has established the scientific credentials to demonstrate that it is here to stay. Week after week news studies show that the brain isn't just a fixed gray lump, but something that can grow and change with the right stimulation. Test scores, mental health, intelligence - all respond to the right kind of mental exercise making brain training software not just a novel gift but an adaptable one, too.
This all sounds perfect until we go looking for the right brain training software to buy. There are many choices, and without knowing our way around, there seems to be no good way to choose between them.
Since the brain training field is relatively new, there hasn't yet been a shakeout in the market. Far from it. This year software vendors have been releasing new brain training products thick and fast hoping for a piece of the growing pie. For consumers this results in a minefield - high-priced products, affordable products, science-based training, pseudoscientific games. It's all out there.
Here are a few things to look out for when researching products:
1. What specific scientific study is the training based on or measured by, and what were the findings of those studies? (Vague, unspecific claims about the training are a red flag.)
2. Is this really training software or just a set of games? Unless the training demands considerable concentration and provide considerable reward it's not going to be of any particular use in generating new cell growth and plastic change. If it does, then it should also be training the core cognitive functions of memory, processing speed, and left-brain, right-brain multi-tasking. This should all be clearly stated by the vendor.
3. What does the vendor say about the degree and duration of the training? The vendor should say just how much training is needed to reach a specific goal. If this isn't stated, it's uncertain that the science is truly sound.
Buying the right brain training product isn't as straightforward as buying the most expensive. In this new market, price doesn't determine quality. In these turbulent economic times this gives us an opportunity to find a product that is not only effective but affordable.
But whether you splurge big bucks or track down an affordable gem, it's certain that your research will reward you with a unique and well received gift.
Do you know someone who loves puzzles, craves mental stimulation, and likes a challenge? Good brain training software not only meets these requirements but can also improve a person's ability to solve those puzzles and meet those mental challenges, making it doubly rewarding.
But brain training software isn't just for the brainy sort. You may have a loved one who has begun to forget things or worries about the inevitable mental decline that comes with aging. Although you'll have to consider whether the gift will be appreciated in the spirit it's given, buying a brain training program for someone in this category may be the most loving gift you could give.
Although it's not yet a household phenomenon, brain training has established the scientific credentials to demonstrate that it is here to stay. Week after week news studies show that the brain isn't just a fixed gray lump, but something that can grow and change with the right stimulation. Test scores, mental health, intelligence - all respond to the right kind of mental exercise making brain training software not just a novel gift but an adaptable one, too.
This all sounds perfect until we go looking for the right brain training software to buy. There are many choices, and without knowing our way around, there seems to be no good way to choose between them.
Since the brain training field is relatively new, there hasn't yet been a shakeout in the market. Far from it. This year software vendors have been releasing new brain training products thick and fast hoping for a piece of the growing pie. For consumers this results in a minefield - high-priced products, affordable products, science-based training, pseudoscientific games. It's all out there.
Here are a few things to look out for when researching products:
1. What specific scientific study is the training based on or measured by, and what were the findings of those studies? (Vague, unspecific claims about the training are a red flag.)
2. Is this really training software or just a set of games? Unless the training demands considerable concentration and provide considerable reward it's not going to be of any particular use in generating new cell growth and plastic change. If it does, then it should also be training the core cognitive functions of memory, processing speed, and left-brain, right-brain multi-tasking. This should all be clearly stated by the vendor.
3. What does the vendor say about the degree and duration of the training? The vendor should say just how much training is needed to reach a specific goal. If this isn't stated, it's uncertain that the science is truly sound.
Buying the right brain training product isn't as straightforward as buying the most expensive. In this new market, price doesn't determine quality. In these turbulent economic times this gives us an opportunity to find a product that is not only effective but affordable.
But whether you splurge big bucks or track down an affordable gem, it's certain that your research will reward you with a unique and well received gift.
About the Author:
Oxford-trained scientist, author, and technologist, Martin Walker is a member of The British Neuroscience Association, Learning and The Brain, and MENSA. His company Mind Evolve Software publishes free information on the field of neuroscience and brain training as well as effective and affordable brain exercise software under the brand name Mind Sparke.
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