Ask someone if they do "brain training" and you'll likely get a puzzled look. Many studies have proven that brain training works, but these benefits haven't yet become widely known. This under-the-radar cache makes brain training a great gift idea for that "difficult to buy for" loved one in your life.
Finding a gift for someone who loves puzzles, craves mental stimulation, and likes a mental challenge can be tough. Effective brain training software not only meets these requirements but improves a person's ability to solve those puzzles and meet those mental challenges, making it doubly rewarding.
Brain training software isn't just for the brainy. You may have a loved one who has begun to forget things or worries about the mental decline that comes with aging. Although you'll have to consider whether the gift will be appreciated in the spirit it's given, buying a brain training program for someone in this category may be the most loving gift you could give.
Although it's not yet widely understood, 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.
There's only one snag. Which brain fitness program to buy? Here's where things get somewhat more difficult.
In any emerging industry there will be pronounced differences between the effectiveness and price of the products available. Many brain training programs have been put together with little scientific foundation and less proof of efficacy. Some have excellent pedigree but cost several hundred dollars. And then there are the hidden gems that deliver great things but can be had for pennies on the dollar. How do we know what to buy?
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 brain training software or just a set of games? Unless the brain training demands considerable concentration and provides considerable reward it's not going to be of any particular use in generating new brain cell growth and plastic change. If it does, then it should also be training the core cognitive functions of working 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?
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 one thing is for sure, a little research will produce a unique and uniquely satisfying gift for someone on your list this holiday season.
Brain training software isn't just for the brainy. You may have a loved one who has begun to forget things or worries about the mental decline that comes with aging. Although you'll have to consider whether the gift will be appreciated in the spirit it's given, buying a brain training program for someone in this category may be the most loving gift you could give.
Although it's not yet widely understood, 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.
There's only one snag. Which brain fitness program to buy? Here's where things get somewhat more difficult.
In any emerging industry there will be pronounced differences between the effectiveness and price of the products available. Many brain training programs have been put together with little scientific foundation and less proof of efficacy. Some have excellent pedigree but cost several hundred dollars. And then there are the hidden gems that deliver great things but can be had for pennies on the dollar. How do we know what to buy?
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 brain training software or just a set of games? Unless the brain training demands considerable concentration and provides considerable reward it's not going to be of any particular use in generating new brain cell growth and plastic change. If it does, then it should also be training the core cognitive functions of working 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?
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 one thing is for sure, a little research will produce a unique and uniquely satisfying gift for someone on your list this holiday season.
About the Author:
Scientist, author, and technologist, Martin Walker is a member of The British Neuroscience Association, Learning and The Brain, and MENSA. His brain fitness company Mind Evolve Software publishes free information in the field of neuroscience and effective, affordable brain fitness software.
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