Comments on: Brain Fitness Program and Neuroplasticity @ PBS http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:59:27 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Karen http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-247337 Karen Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:59:15 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-247337 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~ 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~

]]> By: Alvaro Fernandez http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-235749 Alvaro Fernandez Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:37:21 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-235749 Maggie- we also received your email, so will correspond that way. Maggie- we also received your email, so will correspond that way.

]]> By: maggie http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-235037 maggie Sun, 08 Feb 2009 04:00:50 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-235037 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? 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?

]]> By: Tracey http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-234340 Tracey Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:48:53 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-234340 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! 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!

]]> By: zerodiv http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-193639 zerodiv Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:46:01 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-193639 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. 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.

]]> By: Dispatch http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-180161 Dispatch Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:03:46 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-180161 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. 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.

]]> By: Ken Cooper http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-176981 Ken Cooper Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:47:44 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176981 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. 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.

]]> By: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-176924 Alvaro Thu, 31 Jul 2008 08:01:28 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176924 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 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

]]> By: Ken Cooper http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-176913 Ken Cooper Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:57:36 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-176913 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. 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.

]]> By: Martin http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/comment-page-2/#comment-167313 Martin Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:21:06 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/12/02/brain-fitness-program-and-neuroplasticity-pbs/#comment-167313 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. 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.

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