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December 3, 2008
Brain Fitness Software – The Gift They’ll Always Remember
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.
If you know someone who enjoys games and puzzles, brain training will make the perfect gift. An effective brain training program (we’ll get to that later) stimulates the user in such a way that his or her brain power actually increases, making the training not only enjoyable but useful, too.
And if you know someone who doesn’t get to the mental gym much any more, but has begun to rue the resulting mental flab, brain training software could be just the answer. Just as we may roll our eyes when our nearest and dearest buys us a pair of running shoes (when we haven’t broken a sweat in years), we’ll be secretly pleased that you care enough to invest in our mental well being.
Scientific studies been steadily mounting evidence that brain training can be useful and productive at any stage in life. Studies of schoolchildren show that it helps improve test scores. And studies of seniors shows that it can reduce the likelihood of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s symptoms. One study even found that training short term memory can increase intelligence. All of which makes brain fitness software a uniquely flexible gift.
But before you scurry off to put a few copies in your shopping cart, we must address the thornier question of which brain training program to buy. As with so many things in this world, choosing the right brain fitness software isn’t so easy.
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.
If you’re in the market for brain training software, you should keep these key factors firmly in mind:
1. Is the training derived from a specific scientific program or research study, and what did that study show? (If this isn’t clearly stated, beware.)
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.
Since the field is so new, price doesn’t necessarily indicate quality or effectiveness. Some brain training programs cost several hundred dollars, while other can be had for less than $50. The market has yet to settle on a reasonable cost for a good brain training product. If the product is expensive, can you afford it, does its effectiveness seem to warrant the additional expense? If the product is affordable, is the training protocol nevertheless robust and founded on good science?
One thing is sure, with a little research we can end up with a truly novel and satisfying gift that will be enjoyed and valued for years to come.
Topics: Holidays | 1 Comment »
December 11th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Thank you very much Sir for giving the valuable information in selecting the right “brain fitness software”. My experience has been as you say that there is much software in the market regarding brain fitness as you say but readers should know that you own product, Brain Fitness Pro, meets all of these demands. After trying other brain training I’m now using Brain Fitness pro. (I’ve posted my results in your blog webpage.) I also got response from your end. It’s really fruitful to me. I found many changes in myself. Nowadays, I can give more attention to my work & also can help my family in their work.