Today I had a great conversation with Martin Buschkuehl, one of the U Michigan researchers involved in the cognitive training study that has received much media attention since early last week, when the study was published at the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
I will publish the interview notes next week. For the moment, let me paraphrase his answer to the question: "Why are computerized programs like the one you used fundamentally different from, say, simply doing many crossword puzzles?".
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The ABA (American Bar Association) Journal has a good article titled Law Hacks: 101 tips, tricks and tools to make you a more productive, less stressed-out lawyer, combining tips on email usage, software, and some brain tips from us:
- 67 "The Web site SharpBrains suggests self-improvement exercises. Try this one: Take five-minute visualization breaks with deep and regular breathing, picturing beautiful landscapes or pleasant or successful memories, especially after finishing a tough task."
- 68 "Improve your mental acuity by subtracting numbers, i.e., 7 from 200 (200, 193, 186, 179 ...) or practicing an exponential series (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 ...). The point is not to become a math genius or be smarter than a fifth-grader, but just to keep your mind sharp."
- 69 "It takes a system to be productive, but it’s also useful to try something different every day to stay sharp. For example, try commuting differently or talking to new people."
Some more tips?
