It's gift-giving season again, and the challenge of coming up with novel gift ideas is beginning to loom. That's where brain training software comes in. Brain training is still new enough to ensure that you'll be buying a gift not a re-gift. And for the loved one in your life who can be a particular challenge to buy for, brain training software may be just the answer.
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.
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.
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.
If you're in the market for brain training software, you should keep these key factors firmly in mind:
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. Does the vendor recommend a particular training schedule and does the time commitment seem reasonable to fit into the gift recipient's schedule?
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. - 15485
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.
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.
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.
If you're in the market for brain training software, you should keep these key factors firmly in mind:
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. Does the vendor recommend a particular training schedule and does the time commitment seem reasonable to fit into the gift recipient's schedule?
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. - 15485
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 training software under the brand name Mind Sparke.
