Brain Fitness
How Cognitive Training Works
"Neuroplasticity" refers to the physical changes that are continually taking place in
your brain as you experience and adapt to the world around you. During every
3D Rendering of a Neuron
day of your life, neurons
and the connections between them change to encode information. By influencing this plasticity
with the right activities, it is possible to train your brain to function better. Learning new things and
challenging yourself frequently may promote more constructive neuroplasticity, and help prevent or off-set
the negative effects of brain injury, Alzheimer’s disease, or aging.
The exercises in the Lumosity brain training program are designed to stimulate the neuroplasticity that leads to improved cognitive ability and a healthier brain.
Improving Cognitive Ability
Fundamental cognitive abilities – such as memory, attention and processing speed – can be improved with appropriate training.
The Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) study, funded by NIH, demonstrated that older adults could improve their cognitive abilities with proper training, and that some of these gains were maintained several years later. In this experiment conducted by a number of researchers across the US, over 2800 adults aged 65-94 received training in memory, reasoning, or processing speed. After about 10 hours of training, each group improved significantly in the area that they trained. Even 5 years later subjects maintained many of their improvements.
A Balanced Brain Workout
The Lumosity brain training program is the result of synthesizing and building upon the cumulative work of neuroscience, psychology and cognitive science researchers worldwide. Their research forms the basis for creating the most effective brain games and exercises in each cognitive domain:
Memory
Memory exercises target the types of memory that are important in everyday life such as working memory, spatial memory, and remembering names and faces.
Attention
Concentrating on relevant information while ignoring irrelevant information is improved by games that exercise visual attention, selective attention, and shifting focus.
Processing Speed
Speed of processing underlies how quickly a person can think, take in sensory information, or conduct other cognitive processes such as comprehending language.
Cognitive Control
Control of other cognitive processes is necessary for thinking and acting according to internal goals.