Dec 2, 2007
Brain Fitness Program and Neuroplasticity @ PBS
By: Alvaro Fernandez
Update (01/07/08): The most popular question we got when we announced that PBS had a great special on Brain Fitness Program and Neuroplasticity in December was, when will the DVD be available?
Well, finally here it comes. You can click on the DVD image or the title to go over to PBS shop to learn more and buy it.
The Brain Fitness Program DVD ($24.95, shipped by 02/01/08)
“This program presents a workout to help viewers get their brains in better shape. The Brain Fitness Program is based on neuro-plasticity, the ability of the brain to change and adapt — even rewire itself. In the past two 
years, a team of scientists has developed computer-based stimulus sets that drive beneficial chemical, physical and functional changes in the brain. Dr. Michael Merzenich of the University of California San Francisco and his colleagues around the world have been leading this effort; he brings the research findings, along with a scientifically based set of brain exercises, to PBS viewers in this innovative and life-altering program. Peter Coyote (pictured) narrates. ”
To purchase this informational DVD: please click Here.
PBS aired in December a special program on neuroplasticity, brain fitness, aging and the brain titled “Brain Fitness Program”. You can check local times and listings:
To watch the 3-minute trailer: click here.
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Note: How can anyone take care of his or her brain when every week brings a new barrage of articles and studies which seem to contradict each other?
Do supplements improve memory? Do you need both physical and mental exercise –or is one of them enough? Why is managing stress so important to attention and memory? Which brain training approach, if any, is worth one’s time and money?
If you have these questions, check out this new book, The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness:
—Gloria Cavanaugh, former President & CEO of the American Society on Aging and founding Board member of the National Alliance for Caregiving
“Kudos for an excellent resource! This SharpBrains Guide is full of top notch information, provides practical tips and helps separate hype from hope in the brain health arena.”
—Elizabeth Edgerly, Ph.D., Chief Program Officer, Alzheimer’s Association
“A masterful guide to the brain training revolution. Promises to stimulate a much needed conversation that will nudge society to build a new brain fitness culture on solid, research-based, foundations.”
—P. Murali Doraiswamy MD, Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University and Co-author of The Alzheimer’s Action Plan
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Yes, He does intervene. And He always intervenes for us because we have a heart to hear from Him.
I would like to see the company selling the product an affordable price, $40. The company would then be able to sell tens of millions of copies as the word gets out what it accomplishes. This is because people will then be able to afford to purchase a copy for themselves and also buy copies for relatives/friends who would benefit from the program.
When you help others you will be helped. Do not try to get all your money from just a few people by overpricing the software! Remember, it is drop by drop the ocean is filled. Just imagine how dangerous it would be if, instead of raindrops, the ocean were filled with raingallons! My good wishes go with you!
Thank you!
I am glad to hear that this can be used by 2 people, but can it be used by two people in 2 different locations, Kansas and Colorado. I’d like to get this, and share it with my mom who lives in Kansas????? Thanks
Hello Kanonklin: the product developer’s website says both people must be in the “same household”, so I guess you can’t share it that way, since you’ll need to instal the software CD in one computer (which then may be used by 2 people).
Alvaro:
Thank you for your insight and intelligence. I find it simply fascinating that some folks are actually balking at a $350 price tag! As an IT professional, I can assure those posting that $350.00 is extremely cheap for software.
Take it from the mother of an autistic spectrum child– I would be thrilled to find cognitive development help for $350!! Try the Lindamood Bell program– $10,000 for a 6 week session. Or perhaps $3,000 just to engage FastForward? How about a $8,000-10,000 commitment for P.A.C.E./ Learning RX? And the real kicker? You take a 2nd on your house so that your child might possibly achieve age appropriate performance. Oh, and by the way, not one of those organizations offers any type of guarantee for your $10,000 investment.
Yet many, many parents are getting loans, borrowing against their homes– anything– to get these kids the help they need to (hopefully) hold their own in this knowledge-based society of ours.
Any parent of a child struggling with processing issues can tell you that there is a rapidly advancing, ever widening chasm between the “haves” and the “have nots” in our country– except now what sets the “have nots” apart is cognitive development.
Yet the programs PROVEN to be most effective are cost prohibitive for most U.S. families. With diagnosis of autistic spectrum at a crisis level (currently 1 in 150 kids in the U.S.), it is only going to get far, far worse.
I don’t know whether this program works or not. I just don’t feel too much sympathy for those gripping about the $350! If it works for you, consider yourself fortunate to have found a valuable resource.
Now, can we get back to sharing some more great information on auditory processing and flexing those cognitive muscles? Mary Lu– you’re great. More insight?
And MK Gates– I have no doubt that PBS and NPR are not your cup of tea. Perhaps the “mama bird” news (you know– someone else digests it and regurgitates it for you to eat up with abandon) from Fox News is more to your liking?
MK Gates, it’s odd that on the one hand you’re saying this is a “money making scheme” and a “ripoff” as if to imply it’s of no value or it doesn’t work. But you then seem to say it would be a good deal at $40. So you apparently think it’s a good product at “some” price, just not the price that it’s currently selling at.
Just because it’s on a “single” CD as you put it, doesn’t mean the information contain therein is not worthy of a set price. Thousands of hours of work by very specialized scientist goes into something like this. How is $40 the appropriate price? A diamond is nothing more than a piece of coal compressed under high heat, yet people spend thousands of dollars for something that’s “looks” good on their finger and nothing more.
If the price is currently beyond your means, it seems unfair to blame PBS or the program since by your own statement, you say that tens of millions of people would own it at a lower price. At the very least, it sounds like you think it’s a pretty darn good program.
Balooch: thank you for your comment and program overview…yes, when programs are sold as a bundle with services they can become really expensive. We hope that over time prices will go down…as they usually do as fields and programs mature.
And the reality is that, unfortunately, we have not seen high-quality research showing that those are effective with autistic children. The closest we have seen is TeachTown, but still without a randomized controlled trial. Cogmed is showing promising results with Asperger’s.
GCH: thank you for your comment too. Good analogy.
Both: let’s not be too hard on MK…no one is perfect. We all come from different backgrounds, and all can learn
Have a nice weekend!
We have been a FastForward Provider for about six months and have a child with auditory processing delay. We currently have over a dozen children in the FF protocol. As a parent and a provider, the science behind this is REAL and we have been seeing incredible results. Non-verbal autistic children are starting to speak, children are leap-frogging over reading levels and children who used to lash out in anger/tantrums are able to control their emotions better. Due to the harsh winter, we have had children who have missed their protocol and have been telling their parents they feel different when they don’t GET to come to our center. Although the price may seem to be high, finally finding something that ACTUALLY works and seeing your child progress makes it all worth it.
“Kassandra: You are raising a valid concern. I will forward your complaint to the company that develops and sells that software-we have nothing to do with it!”
It is shameful enough that PBS engages in this scam.
It is unforgivable that it would deny having anything “to do with it”.
Obviously there is a connection between the PBS TV program and the marketing of the software. To claim otherwise is simply not credible.
PLUS I profoundly thank those who pointed out that the software is only usable through two cycles.
It is a shame how far PBS has fallen from its formerly noble status.
Balooch writes;
“Yet the programs PROVEN to be most effective are cost prohibitive for most U.S. families. With diagnosis of autistic spectrum at a crisis level (currently 1 in 150 kids in the U.S.), it is only going to get far, far worse.”
This is complete bull !
“All” you have to do is eat properly, take supplementary multivitamins and multilminerals to make sure your diet is complete, exercise properly, and engage in regular challenging mental exercise — for example, play bridge, do crossword puzzles . . . even the mental effort required to do folk-dancing has been shown to suffice.
I put “all” in quotes because it’s not that easy to take proper care of oneself. BUT it is completely within one’s control unless one is poverty-stricken. Any it’s NOT cost-prohibitive.
That’s a total scam by the people who want you to think that your brain will automatically deteriorate unless you buy their product.
It is outrageous and probably illegal that PBS is in cahoots with these deceptive profiteers.
Does anyone know how I can still order the $365 Brain Fitness Package from PBS? I can’t find it on thier website.
i don’t like going to the gym to workout but go because of the apparent outcomes from exercise, same as this i won’t like to spend an hour each day doing the exercises but know the outcome can only be beneficial. I bought the bundle and I am currently using it and I used to be a computer programmer, the amount of work that goes into this is huge, if they did not charge that amount how would they pay their staff, research, day to day, etc…
brenda, just give them a ring an ding ding and order
In response to M.Pace, 3/15–
Balooch8 was writing about neuro programs for children with autism, not about typical adults. So exercise, eating right and doing puzzles clearly arn’t adequate. There has been extensive research proving the regarding efficacy of programs like “Fast Forword.” Kirk attests to the success of Fast Forword in his personal experience providing the program. (3/13)
I don’t know anything about studies regarding efficacy of the Brain Fitness program with “typical” adults, but don’t be so quick to assume it is “a rip off.” The scientists who designed Fast Forword created the Brain Fitness program. Alvero, can you comment on the Brain Fitness program and studies?
I am a physical therapist and I work with adults, many of whom have strokes, brain injuries, or other neurological disorders. I would like to know if there are any studies using the Brain Fitness Program (or Mindfit Program) on adults with the above disorders. Many of my patients are asking for more information. Please cite studies in your response. Thank you.
Linda: the 2 programs with published research specifically for stroke and TBI patients are NovaVision (FDA cleared) and Cogmed (small pilot). Not aware of published papers in good journals of other programs for those conditions.
Cicerone has done a couple great literature reviews, you can check them in PubMed.
Mary Lu: Posit’s program is pretty recent, so they don’t have published research comparable to Scientific Learning. So far, they have one trial published in PNAS, with average age around 70, and they have announced some initial results from IMPACT, a very large study, that will probably create media waves when published.
M. Pace: my brain has limitations too…and I really can’t see how to explain better that we (SharpBrains) have nothing to do with Posit Science’s program… we can talk about them, the same way we discuss many other programs, research studies, trends…but are fully separate companies. And in fact we don’t sell their product, or any other. Better now?
All professionals in this thread: we have published our market report to provide an overview of the field, the players, and the trends. You may find it a useful professional tool
http://www.sharpbrains.com/market-report/
I want to offer one important note to those who may contemplate obtaining ‘The Brain Fitness Program’ as a gift in return for a $365 pledge to PBS. When you receive the letter from PBS acknowledging your pledge, you will find that the actual valuation of your pledge (for tax purposes) is $65, with fair value of goods received (i.e., ‘The Brain Fitness Program’) noted as $300. How much of your $365 pledge actually makes its way in to the PBS treasury will depend, of course, on what their actual cost is for ‘The Brain Fitness Program’, but the contribution you will be able to report on your income tax return is $65.
Michael, great point, thank you for sharing.
Mary Lu/Alvaro,
I saw The Brain Fitness Program on PBS for the first time last night. I have been on the hunt for software for my ADHD diagnosed child for several years. Do you think this program would be of any benefit?
Kathy, the only research-based cognitive interventions I have seen for ADHD kids are:
1) Cogmed working memory training program (software-based, available via clinicians)
2) Cognitive behavioral therapy
3) Meditation. With less evidence at this point, but very intriguing one, as we covered recently.
None of the programs mentioned in the PBS program have published evidence on efficacy for kids with ADHD (they target other populations/ cognitive priorities).
I suggest you consult your kids’ doctor or specialist on what he/ she thinks may help.
As this field begins to burgeon, it will be critical for us to be able to distinguish between the snake oil and the genuine article. Otherwise people will be wasting time and money and squandering hope on useless products.
Journalists can help by not getting caught up in the hype.
I would agree that $300 or so sounds exorbitant. $30 sounds better. And a program that begins with proven academic research is far less likely to be snake oil than one for which paid studies are supplied on demand.
Just received my Brain Fitness package. Nice!
My main computer is an iMac but my plan has been to install this on my HP Presario C500 Windows (as required) laptop with Celeron M processor and Vista. The speed of this laptop is 533 MHz. Now I see that this program needs a speed of at least 1 GHz.
I’m hoping you’ll tell me to go ahead and load it because it will work fine at your 533 MHZ or that you now have a program for my iMac.
I’ll hold off loading this until I receive your answer.
Ken, we do not sell any product, but cover the whole market as a research & advisory firm. You probably are confusing companies.
The documentation you have probably lists a website and customer support contact information. I encourage you to contact them and ask that question.
Regards
Thanks for the quick response. I called PositScience, the developers of the Brain Fitness Program. They have a Mac version of this and are sending it to me. Bravo!
Thanks again.
Hi. I watched portions of the Brain Fitness Program on my local PBS station this past week. The high price for the software is not a scam, it is a pledge to support PBS, and the software is a gift. PBS also does shows on musicians (last I saw was the Osmonds), and for a pledged amount, you get Osmond stuff.
I am a Moderator on a message board that advocates treatment options for Depression & Epiepsy/Seizure Disorder patients. I am looking for a low cost & scientifically proven results treatment option to share with the members. Is it possible this software would be beneficial adjunctive therapy in helping ease the frequency and severity of depression & seizures? We are not Physicians on this message board, and can not give medical advice. We do offer suggestions the members can research & discuss with thier treating Physicians. I myself suffer with seizures & depression resulting from a traumatic brain injury. The injury has caused learning difficulties, short term memory issues, balance & coordination problems, etc. I think this software would be beneficial for someone in my case. In most all cases, having seizures and uncontrolled depression require some sort of medication intervention, so in no way am I going to suggest any member go off meds, but to be able to utilize something like this software may open up a whole new world for some people in gaining better control over seizures & depression. Medication for these illnesses, as well as ECT treatments for depression, cause memory loss and alot of the time awful side effects. Some people have no relief from these treatments. It would be great to be able to have something that is non-invasive & non-toxic to help treat these illnesses.
I look forward to any information any of you can provide. Thanks in advance for your time.
I usually love pbs, but I have to say that I am thoroughly disappointed with this program. I’m all for funding drives, but this was basically an infomercial.
Balooch8, Mary Lu and Alvaro, Thanks much for all the wonderful information. You have helped me greatly in my search for brain based activities for my 6 year old!
Your blog is wonderful, Alvaro!
I am a graduate student in Chicago studying the application of neurotechnologies in teaching and learning settings. I am especially interested in listening, or sound therapy programs and/or brain based computer programs for special needs children. I have a few questions:
1-Do you have any recommendations of graduate courses/workshops where I can learn more about brain based/brain fitness computer technology?
2-What are experts in the field, such as yourself, calling this area of neurotechnology? Is it cognitive technology, or neuroeducational technology? How would I define this area for the general population who doesn’t understand these techniques?
Maggie- we also received your email, so will correspond that way.
RELAX! PBS watchers.
If the CD/DVD is too expensive- – Don’t pledge! I saw the show this past Sat., and thought it was extremely interesting and informative. When I heard the $ re-quested (donation) I thought “well, I can’t afford it – but it was sure an interesting afternoon. I will remember some of what I heard and leave it at that~