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Honest question: so if brain training exercises don't work, then what else can genuinely improve brain functions?

by devy 10y ago

coldtea 10y ago
For particular brain functions (learning guitar, coding, speaking another languages) actual practice. (This is also how training exercises work, only their particular function they improve the brain on is solving them, which makes them useless). In general, better physical workout and diet does genuinely improve brain function. Hard for the brain to function well in a 500lbs diabetic body...
TulliusCicero 10y ago
I remember reading studies about a few different video games improving cognitive performance: Rise of Nations, Starcraft, and an FPS (maybe Unreal Tournament?).
- zizzles 10y ago
  Could this perhaps just be a rationalization for some to play video games under a doctrine of "I'm getting smarter" when in turn it's just mindless consumption of media? I am all for FPS games improving my cognitive performance, but we should not be delusional about this. If I wanted to (at least try) improving cognition, I would spend hours reading math textbooks and doing exercises, learning languages, perhaps reading about philosophy in my off-time; not strafing left and right with my WASD keys and trashing on kids all day in Counter-Strike.
  - TulliusCicero 10y ago
    Sounds like you already made up your mind.
sotojuan 10y ago
Actually learn new stuff? Learn a second language, an instrument, math, programming—anything that takes you out of your comfort zone.
rixarn 10y ago
Physical exercise. I'm not kidding. I recall hearing about a researcher that worked with people age (65+) to see how they could recover and/or improve their cognitive skills. He tried other things (including brain training) before jumping to exercise. Its research lab ended up being a Gym. Brain training does work for some people; around 20% of the population won't gain anything from it, regardless of what you make em do. And even for those that works it has limited scope on the benefits.
devilsavocado 10y ago
Meditation works. We've known about the usefulness of it for thousands of years, and more recently there is a growing body of scientific proof [1]. Everyone really should try it. I firmly believe there is nothing that you can do in 20 mins a day that will improve your life more. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_meditation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_meditation

Honest question: so if brain training exercises don't work, then what else can genuinely improve brain functions?

by devy 10y ago

Honest question: so if brain training exercises don't work, then what else can genuinely improve brain functions?

For particular brain functions (learning guitar, coding, speaking another languages) actual practice. (This is also how training exercises work, only their particular function they improve the brain on is solving them, which makes them useless). In general, better physical workout and diet does genuinely improve brain function. Hard for the brain to function well in a 500lbs diabetic body...

TulliusCicero 10y ago

I remember reading studies about a few different video games improving cognitive performance: Rise of Nations, Starcraft, and an FPS (maybe Unreal Tournament?).

zizzles 10y ago
Could this perhaps just be a rationalization for some to play video games under a doctrine of "I'm getting smarter" when in turn it's just mindless consumption of media? I am all for FPS games improving my cognitive performance, but we should not be delusional about this. If I wanted to (at least try) improving cognition, I would spend hours reading math textbooks and doing exercises, learning languages, perhaps reading about philosophy in my off-time; not strafing left and right with my WASD keys and trashing on kids all day in Counter-Strike.
- TulliusCicero 10y ago
  Sounds like you already made up your mind.

sotojuan 10y ago

Actually learn new stuff? Learn a second language, an instrument, math, programming—anything that takes you out of your comfort zone.

rixarn 10y ago

Physical exercise. I'm not kidding. I recall hearing about a researcher that worked with people age (65+) to see how they could recover and/or improve their cognitive skills. He tried other things (including brain training) before jumping to exercise. Its research lab ended up being a Gym. Brain training does work for some people; around 20% of the population won't gain anything from it, regardless of what you make em do. And even for those that works it has limited scope on the benefits.

devilsavocado 10y ago

Meditation works. We've known about the usefulness of it for thousands of years, and more recently there is a growing body of scientific proof [1]. Everyone really should try it. I firmly believe there is nothing that you can do in 20 mins a day that will improve your life more. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_meditation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research_on_meditation