Comments on: Improving Driving Skills and Brain Functioning- Interview with ACTIVE's Jerri Edwards http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/ Brain Fitness and Cognitive Health news Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:04:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: » Art Kramer on Why We Need Walking Book Clubs   « Brain Fitness Revolution at SharpBrains      http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-169359 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:27:59 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-169359 [...] - Improving Driving Skills, and the ACTIVE trials- with Dr. Jerri Edwards [...] [...] - Improving Driving Skills, and the ACTIVE trials- with Dr. Jerri Edwards [...]

]]> by: ddriving http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-148198 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 19:56:52 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-148198 From Michael: Learning-to-process games could be fun I suppose but are speculators going any farther? Is any one designing real world brain input learning in driving, e.g., or other fields? Thanks From Michael: Learning-to-process games could be fun I suppose but are speculators going any farther? Is any one designing real world brain input learning in driving, e.g., or other fields? Thanks

]]> by: Dave’s Whiteboard » Blog Archive » The drive to learn http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-145237 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:54:23 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-145237 [...] At Sharp Brains, Improving Driving Skills and Brain Functioning. [...] [...] At Sharp Brains, Improving Driving Skills and Brain Functioning. [...]

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-133673 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:31:27 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-133673 Henry, thank you for your comment. It adds good context, and does well in encouraging more companies invest in good research. It also raises several questions that I'd love you to address: 1- Computerized cognitive training has been around for a while, with a variety of approaches. You may also have read my interviews with Daniel Gopher and Torkel Klingberg, for example. It would be highly surprising to learn that some of the requirements to make it work have been patented, as you seem to imply. 2- It is public information that Posit Science has been working on a visual processing program for over a year. And this acquisition just happened. So the obvious questions are a) how are you going to integrate 2 different products and approaches, b) and in such a short timeframe, by March? 3- In fact, more research will be needed to show the efficacy of whatever you launch in March, which is not the same that has been used in the ACTIVE and other trials. 4- May I suggest, to you and all other developers, that we need to see more solid controls? watching some educational DVDs is not the best high-quality control that will allow you to claim your cognitive training has been shown to be better than other cognitive training products, simply that cognitive training itself works. Thank you Henry, thank you for your comment. It adds good context, and does well in encouraging more companies invest in good research. It also raises several questions that I'd love you to address:

1- Computerized cognitive training has been around for a while, with a variety of approaches. You may also have read my interviews with Daniel Gopher and Torkel Klingberg, for example. It would be highly surprising to learn that some of the requirements to make it work have been patented, as you seem to imply.

2- It is public information that Posit Science has been working on a visual processing program for over a year. And this acquisition just happened. So the obvious questions are a) how are you going to integrate 2 different products and approaches, b) and in such a short timeframe, by March?

3- In fact, more research will be needed to show the efficacy of whatever you launch in March, which is not the same that has been used in the ACTIVE and other trials.

4- May I suggest, to you and all other developers, that we need to see more solid controls? watching some educational DVDs is not the best high-quality control that will allow you to claim your cognitive training has been shown to be better than other cognitive training products, simply that cognitive training itself works.

Thank you

]]> by: Henry Mahncke http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-132620 Sat, 09 Feb 2008 13:53:48 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-132620 Hi folks, The speed of processing training program Dr. Edwards refers to is a very specific training program with a number of detailed technical requirements. The design is covered by several issued US patents. With all due respect to the comments mentioning Lumosity, Cognifit, and Happy Neuron, only the specific speed of processing training program described by Dr. Edwards has been demonstrated to improve instrumental activities of daily living and reduce risks of functional decline over time. The training programs from Lumosity, Cognitfit, and Happy Neuron have not been shown to have those effects; and in fact Dr. Edwards' and Dr. Ball's research shows that their positive results are quite specific to that speed of processing training program. There's no particular reason to think that those various other training programs will have those beneficial effects; and if their developers think they might they should invest the time and hard work in documenting those effects as Dr. Edwards and Dr. Ball have. The speed of processing training program described by Dr. Edwards was acquired by Posit Science, and a fully-updated version including a number of additional visual training exercises will be launched in March. Best regards, Henry Vice President of Research & Outcomes Posit Science Hi folks,

The speed of processing training program Dr. Edwards refers to is a very specific training program with a number of detailed technical requirements. The design is covered by several issued US patents.

With all due respect to the comments mentioning Lumosity, Cognifit, and Happy Neuron, only the specific speed of processing training program described by Dr. Edwards has been demonstrated to improve instrumental activities of daily living and reduce risks of functional decline over time. The training programs from Lumosity, Cognitfit, and Happy Neuron have not been shown to have those effects; and in fact Dr. Edwards' and Dr. Ball's research shows that their positive results are quite specific to that speed of processing training program. There's no particular reason to think that those various other training programs will have those beneficial effects; and if their developers think they might they should invest the time and hard work in documenting those effects as Dr. Edwards and Dr. Ball have.

The speed of processing training program described by Dr. Edwards was acquired by Posit Science, and a fully-updated version including a number of additional visual training exercises will be launched in March.

Best regards,
Henry

Vice President of Research & Outcomes
Posit Science

]]> by: Alvaro http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131911 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:18:43 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131911 Thank you all for your contributions. George, you could try a few of the programs mentioned here. Another one, focused on auditory processing, is Posit Science. Physical exercise has also been shown to improve reaction time, as well as meditation. There are no universal "prescriptions" yet, but different tools most appropriate to our specific contexts. That's why we recommend you use our checklist http://www.sharpbrains.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/sharpbrains_checklist.pdf Jason, thanks for the encouragement. I am sure your "fact finding" has been more in-depth than the one reflected in the press release you link to...(a very interesting development indeed, that in fact we blogged about last month), but it loses credibility when it opens with the factually incorrect "Only companies with scientifically proven training programs that improve mental function..." Please take a look at my interviews with Torkel Klingberg and Daniel Gopher, for example. And please let us know of interesting developments you see in the field! What is your motivation to follow Dr. Ball's research/ what do you work on? Thank you all for your contributions.

George, you could try a few of the programs mentioned here. Another one, focused on auditory processing, is Posit Science. Physical exercise has also been shown to improve reaction time, as well as meditation. There are no universal "prescriptions" yet, but different tools most appropriate to our specific contexts. That's why we recommend you use our checklist
http://www.sharpbrains.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/sharpbrains_checklist.pdf

Jason, thanks for the encouragement. I am sure your "fact finding" has been more in-depth than the one reflected in the press release you link to...(a very interesting development indeed, that in fact we blogged about last month), but it loses credibility when it opens with the factually incorrect "Only companies with scientifically proven training programs that improve mental function..."

Please take a look at my interviews with Torkel Klingberg and Daniel Gopher, for example. And please let us know of interesting developments you see in the field! What is your motivation to follow Dr. Ball's research/ what do you work on?

]]> by: Jason http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131896 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:44:57 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131896 For the last few years I have been doing lots of "fact finding" with regards to brain fitness/health. One piece I recently came across, with regards to Dr. Ball , was this: http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS109321+14-Jan-2008+PRN20080114 This "team up" if you will, could be a great thing for people who want programs with real science behind them. Keep up the great interviews Alvaro. For the last few years I have been doing lots of "fact finding" with regards to brain fitness/health. One piece I recently came across, with regards to Dr. Ball , was this:

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS109321+14-Jan-2008+PRN20080114

This "team up" if you will, could be a great thing for people who want programs with real science behind them.

Keep up the great interviews Alvaro.

]]> by: Laura Fay http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131498 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:48:55 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131498 George - Happy Neuron offers cognitive training programs for attention and visual-spatial skills, the key brain functions that important in Driving - processing speed (aka reaction time), landmark identification & navigation, etc. Training programs have been provided to corporations specifically for driver fleet training. Visit www.happy-neuron.com to experience these cognitive training tools. George - Happy Neuron offers cognitive training programs for attention and visual-spatial skills, the key brain functions that important in Driving - processing speed (aka reaction time), landmark identification & navigation, etc.
Training programs have been provided to corporations specifically for driver fleet training. Visit www.happy-neuron.com to experience these cognitive training tools.

]]> by: Roy Israely http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131281 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 13:38:00 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131281 George. If you are looking for a great software that improves processing speed, as well as other driving- related cognitive abilities, I would suggest DriveFit. You can read some details at: www.cognifit.com George.
If you are looking for a great software that improves processing speed, as well as other driving- related cognitive abilities, I would suggest DriveFit. You can read some details at: www.cognifit.com

]]> by: Mike Scanlon http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131035 Wed, 06 Feb 2008 04:23:43 +0000 http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2008/02/04/improving-driving-skills-and-brain-functioning-interview-with-actives-jerri-edwards/#comment-131035 Jerri, I've read several of your papers on training visual attention and processing speed - thanks for your important contributions to the field. George, I work on an online training program designed to improve processing speed, as well as memory and attention. There's a free trial at Lumosity.com Jerri, I've read several of your papers on training visual attention and processing speed - thanks for your important contributions to the field.

George, I work on an online training program designed to improve processing speed, as well as memory and attention. There's a free trial at Lumosity.com

]]>