The Science of Brain Training

In 2017, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report on the state of the science regarding interventions to prevent cognitive decline. The report indicated that brain training is one of the three most promising intervention approaches to address the challenges of cognitive aging, along with physical exercise and blood pressure management.

Our brain training program incorporates the latest findings in Cognitive Neuroscience. According to researchers from MIT and Harvard, your brain reaches its peak performance between 18 and 40 years of age, depending on the specific brain function, and thereafter declines. However, we now know that the brain is a flexible organ with the capacity to boost its performance at any age and that training with brain exercises is a powerful tool for cognitive enhancement.

We offer a variety of training exercises that stimulate and strengthen the essential cognitive abilities that enable our brains to think, remember, pay attention, and solve problems. The exercises are done one-on-one over the phone and tailored to your individual needs. Exercises train and strengthen many cognitive skills, including memory, reasoning, concentration, and mental speed. Over time, difficulty of the brain exercises is increased as your performance increases so that you remain challenged but not overwhelmed by the training. Both targeting multiple cognitive skills and increasing difficulty are important for achieving long-term neural changes in the brain (BMC Medicine 2012, 10;30). As far as the schedule for the training sessions, three times a week is generally recommended, although this schedule can be tailored to the individual. Studies have shown there were positive effects when the spacing between sessions was changed as a result of ongoing performance (Mettler, 2016).

Training geared to your individual needs

People can benefit from brain training even if the first few signs of Alzheimer’s appear. In an analysis of recently published clinical trials (Neuropsychol Rev, 2017), brain training was very effective in reducing cognitive impairment especially if some of the training focused on memory. Some of the publications suggest that the training activates several neural networks (a system of nerve cells that interact with each other to process information) to achieve benefits.

Key factors for effective brain training

Tailoring

To start we will have you take a test to evaluate your cognitive performance. With this information, we can customize your brain training according to the following parameters: 1) starting level of training, 2) game selection, and 3) progression of game difficulty. To boost your brain power, it is very important that you work at your personal best.

Targeting specific cognitive areas

Brain training can help you perform certain tasks better. Your baseline testing results as well as your personal goals will be invaluable for designing your customized program. In general, the best kind of training includes a series of brain exercises that “work out” many aspects of cognitive function, for example, memory, speed, and high-level thinking.

Motivation

We will suggest to you cognitive training we think you will find enjoyable, new, and challenging – characteristics that should motivate and stimulate you. Some people may have negative beliefs about their cognitive abilities and one-on-one training sessions provide the necessary support, unlike online computer games. Further, several studies suggest that long-lasting cognitive changes are considerably larger when working with a caring and sensitive trainer.

Challenge

Engaging in various types of new and cognitively demanding tasks is good for the brain. In particular, we choose games for you that have a successful track record and are thought to activate neural circuitry in the brain associated with improved cognition.