![]() The games are offered as “training programs” that are intended to be completed daily, and these programs may be individualized to some degree.Ĭompetition in brain training games is usually limited to competition against yourself - trying to improve your score in individual games, or an overall “brain health” score calculated at ongoing intervals which may offer comparisons to others that are of your age and education level. The games increase in difficulty over time. There is some variation between companies, but brain training games feature simple controls and design that allow the player to focus on a single cognitive skill such as memory, attention, processing speed, or problem solving. While Lumosity is one of the best known companies in its industry, there are innumerable apps, video games, and websites available that are dedicated to brain training. What do Brain Training Games Look Like?īrain training games come in all shapes and sizes. The theory of cognitive reserve goes hand-in-hand with neuroplasticity. This theory proposes that life experiences, cognitive activities, and unique skill sets can allow your brain to compensate for the structural changes that come with aging and dementia by building new pathways.Įssentially, cognitive reserve is the “use it or lose it” theory – the more you use your brain, the more pathways it builds through neuroplasticity, and the longer it will take for you to show symptoms of cognitive decline or dementia. This breakthrough was huge for neuroscience, because it showed that adults can modify the structure of their brain even after it has matured.įurther studies have shown that these structural changes can even occur in adults diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment - a high risk factor for the development of dementia. in 2004 demonstrated that adults learning a new task (in this case, juggling) developed new, longterm physical changes in their brain’s composition. Originally, scientists thought that this process only occurred in childhood, but a breakthrough study by Draganski et al. Neuroplasticity is the process of the brain modifying its pathways as it learns new things. ![]() Unfortunately, the reality is a little more complicated than Lumosity’s advertisements would suggest.īrain training games base their promises on two theories – the theory of neuroplasticity, and the theory of cognitive reserve. Recently, many online cognitive training platforms such as Lumosity have claimed that their “brain training” video games can help to slow symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, which currently have no cure. Video games have become so much more than a way to pass time – they’re used as simulations for teaching and training, tests of attention and skill, and even as diagnostic tools. ![]() Brain training games promise to improve your memory, prevent cognitive losses and decrease your chances of showing symptoms of dementia – are their promises too good to be true?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |