Say the words "brain training" and more often than not you 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.
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. Does the vendor indicate the particular scientific basis for the training exercises, if so, what did the studies show? (Look out for vague or general claims.)
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.
Lastly, a comment about cost. In such a new field the old adage "you get what you pay for" simply doesn't apply. Here again it's important to look at what the vendor has to say, if anything, about its pricing. If a product is expensive, why is it expensive? Perhaps the company has simply set a high price because it's carrying a lot of capital investment, or paying a large staff of 'executives.' In these lean times it's worth looking for a product that is both effective and 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.
Author Resource:
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.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")