The performance of your brain can be improved significantly through brain training. For that reason, brain training can assist in improving your productivity and life quality.
The basis for the effectiveness of brain training is that the brain is plastic. In this context, plastic doesn’t mean that the brain consists of countless chained polymers. Rather, the brain’s plasticity refers to the fact that the brain is reshapable. The brain forms new cells and connections when it is challenged and when we learn something new. In other words, the brain is similar to a muscle that grows stronger with exercise, but deteriorates when it isn’t stimulated or challenged.
However, the brain is also much more than that as it can change structure completely to function more effectively. As such, the brain can continuously adapt to quicker and more effective ways of solving the same task.
“We have found no ceiling for abilities such as attention, including among adults. The more training, even with normal people, the higher the results.”
(Dr. Michael I. Posner, Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience, University of Michigan)*
Science shows the possibilities of brain training
Over the last decade, scientists have taken radical steps towards completing our understanding of the functionality, neurological foundation and development of the brain, as will be made clear in the following sections.
It has been proven that the brain is, in fact, plastic, as it can change its physical structures by forming new connections and new neurons and by shutting down other connections. It has further been proven that the plastic ability of the brain lasts throughout life and that the restructuring of the brain can be very significant and very extensive.
It has further been proven that the brain is open to conscious structural training, intervention and development.
“Every brain can change at any age. There is really no upper limit on learning since the neurons seem to be capable of growing new connections whenever they are used repeatedly.”
(Dr. James Zull, Professor of biology and biochemistry, Case Western University, Director of University Center of Teaching and Education)*
The quote above stands in direct contradiction to earlier beliefs, when the brain was regarded as a genetically determined, static structure with a certain amount of neurons and connections which gradually deteriorated with age.
The brain is like an intelligent muscle. It can be trained to great ability or it can wither away
Studies have shown that people in all age groups can improve the performance of their brain significantly by training cognitive abilities, such as attention, visual and auditive processing, short- and long-term memory, linguistics, decision making and problem solving.
”In short, participants (ACTIVE Study) improved their memory, reasoning and information processing speed across all three methods. (…) when tested five years later, the participants in the computer based program had less of a decline in the skill they were trained in than did a control group that received no cognitive training. (…) By doing some exercises, one can improve cognitive speed of processing by 146-250 percent, and a significant portion of that improvement stays even after five years.”
(Dr. Jerri Edwards, Associate Professor, University of South Florida’s School of Aging Studies, Co-Investigator of the influential ACTIVE Study)*
In particular, cognitive deterioration due to aging has shown to be combatable, meaning that it is possible to stay sharp mentally throughout the entirety of life. One study, which involved training of adults above the age of sixty, has shown an improvement in auditive processing and memory equal to ten years of rejuvenation of these abilities.
“We now know that no matter what your brain status or age, there is much you can do to significantly improve brain functions and slow brain aging.”
(Dr. Larry McCleary, former acting Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Denver Children’s Hospital, author of The Brain Trust Program (2007)*
In the future, scientists aim to uncover whether brain training could be an effective way of treating and preventing mental diseases such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer’s Disease, autism, depression and stress.
A crucial factor for the effectiveness of the training is that the level of difficulty is tailored specifically to the optimal level for the individual trainee, and that the training is structured in the correct manner. It is furthermore very important that the exercises are designed specifically to train certain functionalities and abilities of the brain.
In short, Brain+ makes the newest knowledge your tool – so you can strengthen your brain and get more out of life.
If you are curious and want to dig even further into the science behind our exercises, you will have that option in the future. We plan to feature links to scientific articles as well as the scientific studies we are involved in on this page.
*Source – interview, The Sharp Brains Guide to Brain Fitness, 2009