Brain Training – The Gift of A Better Brain

When you’re racking your brain for gift ideas this holiday season don’t forget to put brain training software on your list. You can be pretty sure that they don’t already have it, and for the right person it’s sure to make you a hit.

In itself, the right kind of brain training software can be truly satisfying for anyone who enjoys puzzles or mental challenges. But it will also provide the added value of sharpening concentration, memory, and mental processing for a long time to come.

On the other hand, your loved one may reside on the other side of the cranial fence, so to speak, lacking mental stimulation and beginning to suffer from the inevitable mental decline that sets in when we reach our early forties. Buying brain training software for someone in this category can be a little trickier, a bit like buying an exercise bike for someone with a few extra pounds to shed. Will the recipient be truly grateful for our loving gesture, or will he secretly wonder how much the bike will fetch on eBay? Nevertheless, for someone itching to shed those mental pounds, brain training software is just the ticket.

With brain training programs popping up in gyms, senior housing and schools, it’s clear that we’re at the start of a trend that will continue to grow. Scientific evidence has proven conclusively that the brain can grow new brain cells and change the way its wired throughout our lives. Not even our core intelligence is thought to be a static quantity any more. The opportunities for the individual (and for the gift giver!) are unlimited.

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.

Some brain training programs have been designed and developed with serious intent and sound science to back them up. Whereas others are perhaps less well grounded. Then there’s the matter of price. The programs range from tens of dollars to hundreds of dollars.

This checklist will help you choose wisely:

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’s the timing and time requirement of the training program to produce the stated benefits? The vendor should be clear about how much time is needed and how long the recommended training program will last.

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 a lot less. 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.

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.