Q & A Regarding Cognitive Training

Is there scientific evidence that brain training works?

The answer is yes and no, depending on what you’re asking. Is there evidence that cognitive training can improve specific cognitive abilities? Yes.

Does research today prove that brain training will improve your life and day-to-day living?

Not at this point.

A number of scientific studies have shown that properly constructed exercises can lead to improvements that go beyond the task subjects used for training. Last year, a University of Michigan lab demonstrated that working memory training can lead to an improvement in fluid intelligence. Another set of studies by researchers at the University of Alabama linked visual attention training to safer driving.

Lumosity uses the findings of studies like this to develop all their games and training programs. Further, Lumosity has initiated several studies testing the efficacy of the games and training programs, and is involved in a number of experiments at leading universities testing Lumosity’s impact on various cognitive functional areas.

For instance, a clinical experiment on the Lumosity program revealed that participants improved in measures of both working memory and attention. The results showed that subjects didn’t just improve at the games – they were also better on neuropsychological tests of memory and attention that were not part of the training. Importantly, the improvement was statistically significant, and the methods and analysis were approved by a board of neuroscientists from both Stanford University and UCSF.

Another study at the younger academic level revealed that 11 year olds improved their scores on math tests by 34% after using Lumosity for 6 weeks. The gains made by these students were significantly greater than those made by other students in the same class, who were not training with the Lumosity program.

An ongoing experiment at Austin Speech Labs is evaluating the use of Lumosity to help people recover from stroke, and the early results are promising. A 27 year old patient said, “From the time I had stroke I have had difficulty with speed and language. Lumosity is definitely helping me get better.” Lumosity anticipates the results of this study will be published sometime in the coming months and will be available on the site and through various scientific publications.

At a basic level, working memory and attention are cognitive abilities that underlie complex thinking, language, and other components of intelligence. Lumosity’s games and training programs address each of these functional components, while other Lumosity exercises address academic skills like language and mathematics. And while no brain exercise is proven to get one a better job or bring up poor grades, independent researchers and doctors are continuing to explore the benefits of Lumosity training – as well as the limitations.

Many of the reports published lately have detailed the benefits of everyday activity, such as light physical exercise, as an equally effective way to stimulate the brain. While physical exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, and the brain performs best in a healthy body, it cannot replace the direct cognitive benefits of cognitive training.

What about crossword puzzles and Sudoku?

These activities are intellectually stimulating and fun, which is great. But there’s no evidence that doing crossword puzzles will develop any abilities beyond the skill of doing crossword puzzles. Lumosity exercises target basic cognitive abilities that can impact brain performance more broadly.

Max Goldberg, a Lumosity user, said, “I speak a foreign language, Spanish, and I do crossword puzzles,” Goldberg said. “But through speaking Spanish and doing the crossword puzzles, I never felt the improvement in my memory like I do with the brain games.” (from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MindMoodNews/Story?id=5342882&page=3)

Does brain training prevent Alzheimer’s disease?

There is in fact no proof that any activity prevents Alzheimer’s disease. However, there is a growing body of evidence indicating that cognitively stimulating activities might delay it. People who had extra years of education, work at challenging jobs, and participate in intellectually challenging activities including socializing tend to be less likely to get Alzheimer’s. It’s not yet clear, though, if these activities build resistance to Alzheimer’s or if the people who are already resistant to Alzheimer’s seek out these activities.

Should you pay for brain training?

This is similar to asking if it’s a good idea to purchase a gym membership. You can get physical exercise in many ways, so it’s not necessary, but a gym provides the equipment to exercise muscles efficiently. Similarly, many forms of free intellectual activity can stimulate brain function, but Lumosity provides the equipment to target specific cognitive abilities.