Whitespace: Brain training - a trend worth thinking about

Issue 47: March 2009

You've worked on your presentation for days. You've slaved over the PowerPoint slides, polished your delivery and carefully thought through any possible questions.

The time arrives to strut your stuff. You're presenting like a champion. And then it happens: a momentary brain freeze, a lapse in concentration, a lost train of thought.

It's not a fatal blow to your presentation, but it is a frustrating one. One that makes you realise your memory isn't what it used to be.

Thanks to memory lapse moments like this, brain training – the process of enhancing memory and other cognitive abilities – has become a multi-million dollar industry; a development that's occurring when then need for smart ideas and quick thinking has never been more important.

Time for a neuron workout?

In just two years the brain training industry has more than doubled in size. At a time when many service industries are shrinking, it's claimed brain fitness has grown from being US$100 million industry in 2005 to US$225 million one in 2007.

In the US, the zeitgeist phenomenon of mind gyms is riding this wave of popularity. Bearing names like VibrantMinds and Sparks of Genius, mind gyms offer their clients personalised brain training in high-tech supported environments.

Proving to be particularly popular with baby boomers wanting to say on top of their game, these gyms promise to tone their client's brains using computer facilitated 'neurobic' workouts that centre around a series of games and exercises.

But mind gyms aren't the only option for people wanting to stretch their neurons. Online games including those provided by HAPPYneuron and console style games like Nintendo's Brain Age are also doing massive business.

A not so weird science

The saying 'use it or lose it' certainly isn't a new one, but it has found new life in the wake of scientific evidence suggesting a connection between brain training and cognitive function.

A brain training program recently tested in the US was found to be capable of adding 10 years of speed, accuracy and recall to an individual's brain age. Other studies indicate some games can improve brain fitness and delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

The scientific weight behind brain training revolves around neuroplasticity, the term used to describe the ability of the brain to change and improve as opposed to steadily declining from a fixed state, as was previously thought.

Making smart choices

Not surprisingly, the commercialisation of brain training has attracted criticism. Many developers like Posit Science say the best approach is to only choose brain-stimulating games that are backed by clinical research.

While the brain training claims made by companies like Posit Science are backed by scientific evidence, other researchers in the field suggest that completing good old-fashioned crosswords can do just as much good as expensive software programs.

It turns out Mensa members have been sharpening their minds for years using self-developed tests. (You can try a Mensa developed test here.) But while it might be second nature for Mensa types to find ways to exercise their brains, the rest of us probably need a helping hand.

And that's where support in the form of mind gyms and brain training computer games can help.

Fit for an better future

Given their burgeoning popularity overseas, it's highly likely a mind gym will open up around the corner from your home or office in the near future. You might even hear a whisper about a company that's started offering brain-training support for staff.

It's easy to understand why brain training is taking off.

The global financial crisis is begging for smart, creative answers. And a less stressed, sharper workforce is what every company needs to develop them. It might also be just what you need to never experience a mid-presentation lost thought again.

Habits of highly effective brains

• Be aware – continually remind yourself of the need to 'use it or lose it'
  
• Mind your nutrition – the brain only accounts for 2 per cent of our body mass but uses over 20 per cent of the oxygen and nutrients we intake, so it pays to avoid the bad stuff
• Keep fit – A fit body enhances brain activity
• Look for challenges – expose yourself to new learning experiences, activities and environments
• Avoid stress – chill out, negative thoughts can restrict the creation of new neurons

Source: SharpBrains

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