SharpBrains

Let's now change the theme: Can you write a haiku describing what problem you would like to see brain research solve? Remember the simple rules: write 3 lines, which don't need to rhyme, containing 5,7, and 5 syllables. You can leave your haiku as a comment for extra points...

Previous haikus on brain exercise:

- My favorite, by GTB:

Haiku's are easy
But sometimes they don't make sense
Refrigerator

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Boost your visuospatial skills and learn about your brain
-- By Dr. Pascale Michelon

Visuospatial skills are used everyday in many ways, ranging from going from one room to another in your house to solving a jigsaw puzzle and navigating in a new city.

One specific visuospatial skill has to do with moving spatial information around in your head. It is called mental rotation. 

Let’s take an example. Can you picture in your head an arrow pointing to the right? Now, turn this arrow so it points to the left. Done? 

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Here you are have the bi-monthly Digest of our 10 most Popular blog posts. (Also, remember that you can subscribe to receive our blog RSS feed, or to our newsletter at the top of this page if you want to receive this digest by email).

  After many months of work we have just released our inaugural report The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 for corporate executives, health care professionals, and investors. This report defines the emerging brain fitness software market and analyzes the size and trends of its four customer segments. For top 10 highlights and to purchase the report at a 10% discount (before March 20th) click here: Report: The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008

Brain Fitness News and Events

NEWS FEATURE-Brain fitness seen as hot industry of the future (Reuters 03/12): The most comprehensive article we have seen so far covering this emerging field, based on our market report and with original reporting. Highly recommended read.

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A quick teaser: Imagine you are one of 120 people in a room. Each person in the room is given two lengths of rope and told to chose two of his or her four rope-ends at random and to tie them together. Then each person is told to tie the remaining two rope-ends together.

Then, we count up the loops of rope. How many should there be?

SOLUTION: Continue Reading »

Just came across this very stimulating and fun Traveler IQ interactive game...enjoy!

Link: Traveler IQ Challenge

Note: at the bottom of the page you can select a variety of challenges (flags of the world, UNESCO sites, North America...) My favourite: Photos of the World.

Growing media attention on the brain fitness field. At least on the "Healthy Aging" segment (I predict the media with catch up soon with developments in other areas, from cognitive training for kids and adults with ADD/ ADHD to stroke and TBI rehabilitation, to peak performance for corporate training).

First, a superb article by Leslie Walker at the Washington Post: Cross-Training Your Brain to Maintain Its Strength

Quotes: "A growing body of research suggests that mental activity in middle age and earlier can help later in life. As a result, Web sites such as HappyNeuron.com are springing up to offer online games to people of all ages, while blogs like SharpBrains.com provide commentary on the fledgling industry." (Note: we can also provide commentary on the commentary!)

"People who engage in very challenging tasks --- not just in work but during leisure activities such as reading, crossword puzzles, bridge, chess and travel --- tend to slow down their mental aging process very significantly," says Breznitz, who is also a member of Israel's legislature and has developed a brain-training program called MindFit."

"Also contributing to the brain workout boom are state-of-the-art imaging techniques that have allowed scientists to validate a theory developed decades ago. By taking detailed pictures of brain neurons, scientists watch parts of the brain that had seemed dormant light up and assume new responsibilities in response to stimuli. Theoretically, this means brain decay can be halted or even reversed."

"The brain is constantly rewiring and recalibrating itself in response to what you do," says Henry Mahncke, who holds a PhD in neuroscience and is vice president of Posit Science, the San Francisco developer of the Brain Fitness software. "It remakes itself into a more efficient operation to do the things you ask it to do."

Comments: the article touches many key points. I especially enjoy the quote "To be effective, scientists say mental activity must become progressively more challenging. Otherwise, the brain adjusts and learns to perform repetitive tasks with less effort", a key message I make often in my lectures to explain why well-designed programs can be more effective than doing crossword puzzle number 512,789. The article also relates how many retirement communities and senior centers and individuals are trying out the new brain fitness programs coming to market, and shows some healthy skepticism on the state of the research. Now, this is an invitation to the reporter to interview neuropsychologist Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg to get the full picture of the science behind the field, since these programs haven't appeared in a vacuum. Our 10-Question Evaluation Checklist can provide useful guidance to anyone considering a program.

Boomers use online brain games to stave off dementia (AccountingWeb)

Quotes: "The Internet offers a plethora of brain games for those who don't subscribe to a daily newspaper or don't want to purchase games. AARP, for example, offers plenty of free games on its site. More games appear at SharpBrains.com, including a page that contains the Top Ten Neuroscience Brainteasers, and you can sign up to have the College Board e-mail you the SAT question of the day."

"The generation that refuses to age is not going to sit back and wait for Alzheimer's Disease and other signs of dementia to take hold. Instead, savvy Baby Boomers are expanding their minds (no, not the way they did in the 60s) with the aid of the computer, puzzles, and games. A brain health movement is sweeping Continue Reading »

We will be attending the 5th Annual Media X Conference, April 16 and 17, 2007 at Stanford University.

If you are coming, please contact us so we can talk in more detail about cognitive and emotional training (brain fitness).

Description: Media X Annual Conference will highlight fundamental research about people and technology for our Affiliates and friends.  The research ranges from biometrics for authentication, to wireless network sensors for enhanced quality of life, to gaming and leadership along with Continue Reading »

Very interesting week:

Awards:

1) MindFit 'Brain Gym' Software Receives 2007 Award Business and Aging Award by the American Society on Aging (ASA).

"Most people neglect to exercise their brains as much as they should.  MindFit was created specifically for baby boomers and seniors as a fitness center for their minds," said Prof. Shlomo Breznitz, Ph.D., founder and president of CogniFit, Ltd. 

More on MindFit program.

2) Posit Science received the ASA Small Business award

(You can learn more about the similarities and differences between MindFit and Posit Science here)

3) Keeping Brains Fit: MindAlert Awards Recognize Three Successful Educational Programs, (American Society on Aging-MetLife Foundation MindAlert Awards)

Baby Boomer Summit

Boomer Business Experts Predict “What’s Next” in ‘07 

Marketers need new strategy to reach boomer wallets

Serious Games Summit

Game Friday: Harnessing Collective Intelligence with Jane McGonigal

Serious Games Squared

Persuasive Games: The Missing Social Rituals of Exergames

Other

Mind control: The future of gaming?

Amazing demo of what we remember visually, and why