3 ms·

Working Out at the 'Brain Gym'

8 points by gcheong 18y ago

MikeCapone 18y ago
My mother is now addicted to Sudoku, possibly for similar reasons. I don't think it hurts, but when I hear about these kinds of things that are supposedly good for the brain, I can't help but feel that their fans are seriously missing something. If you want a brain workout, why don't you do something that will teach you something AND stimulate your neocortex? Instead of doing pointless math, why not learn some algebra or physics? Instead of pointless memorization exercises, why not read a good non-fiction book about a topic you don't know much about? Seems like a big wasted opportunity.
- shard 18y ago
  There may be some parallels to physical exercise. Instead of lifting weights or doing cardio, you could do backyard farming or small scale construction, or run to the grocery store. However such tasks usually come with a minimum work quantity required, so that you don't end up with a half built shed, or running two thirds of the way to the store. The same with learning a new subject or reading a new book. Secondly, the targeting of the exercises may be different than real-world tasks. For example, it might not be as easy to work both arms equally when gardening as opposed to using dumbbells. Third, the short exercises have faster rewards, and therefore is more encouraging than learning a whole new subject. Motivation is important when it comes to doing certain things, and having to learn new algebra and physics could kill the motivation.
  - MikeCapone 18y ago
    You make some good points. I think another thing that has an impact is the lack of a PR machine behind "picking up a good non-fiction book" or "doing something constructive that is also a good physical exercise". Or more precisely, the lack of a PR machine that specifically tells people it's good for their brain.
    - MikeCapone 18y ago
      One more question: I wonder if there could be some anti-intellectualism somewhere in there. Like: If you do math & such for health reasons, to keep your brain fit, that's cool. But if you read a bunch of history and physics books (without being forced to) just to know lots of things, that's pretentious and you're just trying to be better than us normal folks. Not sure it's a very strong argument, but curious to know what others think.
- SwellJoe 18y ago
  Agreed. I bought Brain Age 2 when I got a Nintendo DS, and while it's fun (and some games are more real world useful than others; the music phrase game, for example, is a good little music training tool, and it'd be cool to have a whole suite of similar games), I don't really feel any sense of accomplishment or like I've done anything useful with the time. So, it sits unused on the shelf, while Korg DS-10 and some homebrew music making software gets a lot of use on my DS. There's probably a really big business opportunity in building software of this sort for home use. The "home gym" market is obviously a gold mine (which is why so many late-night TV shysters are mining it), so this one may potentially be an even better market. The cost of software is practically zero compared to building real physical gym equipment, so I suspect very few people will continue to drive to a remote location to play these brain games. One could even do it in a way that it actually teaches real skills in subtle ways (like the music phrase game in Brain Age). Given that brain games aren't even all that graphic or sound intensive, one could even do it on the web. Though I'm guessing there's call for things like special purpose controllers and such, which would require installable products.
w1ntermute 18y ago
"Patrons pay $60 a month to work out on 20 computer stations loaded with "mental fitness" software, including a "neurobics circuit" that purports to stretch the brain." This seems a little ridiculous. Why aren't they just selling the software? Or is some specialized hardware required as well?
- menloparkbum 18y ago
  After looking at the website, it appears that the software is not custom, it's just stuff you can already use at home already: lumosity.com, the art dealer game, brain age, etc. It looks like they are selling the "experience" to seniors, rather than the software itself. This isn't a bad tactic, lots of retired people are looking for new ways to get out of the house and stay busy.
- gcheong 18y ago
  One software package called The Brain Fitness Program by Posit Science, and promoted on PBS (in a very infomercial-like manner), goes for $395 for a single-user license. It does seem to at least have some clinical studies behind it but that still seems like a lot to pay.

8 points by gcheong 18y ago

My mother is now addicted to Sudoku, possibly for similar reasons. I don't think it hurts, but when I hear about these kinds of things that are supposedly good for the brain, I can't help but feel that their fans are seriously missing something. If you want a brain workout, why don't you do something that will teach you something AND stimulate your neocortex? Instead of doing pointless math, why not learn some algebra or physics? Instead of pointless memorization exercises, why not read a good non-fiction book about a topic you don't know much about? Seems like a big wasted opportunity.

shard 18y ago
There may be some parallels to physical exercise. Instead of lifting weights or doing cardio, you could do backyard farming or small scale construction, or run to the grocery store. However such tasks usually come with a minimum work quantity required, so that you don't end up with a half built shed, or running two thirds of the way to the store. The same with learning a new subject or reading a new book. Secondly, the targeting of the exercises may be different than real-world tasks. For example, it might not be as easy to work both arms equally when gardening as opposed to using dumbbells. Third, the short exercises have faster rewards, and therefore is more encouraging than learning a whole new subject. Motivation is important when it comes to doing certain things, and having to learn new algebra and physics could kill the motivation.
- MikeCapone 18y ago
  You make some good points. I think another thing that has an impact is the lack of a PR machine behind "picking up a good non-fiction book" or "doing something constructive that is also a good physical exercise". Or more precisely, the lack of a PR machine that specifically tells people it's good for their brain.
  - MikeCapone 18y ago
    One more question: I wonder if there could be some anti-intellectualism somewhere in there. Like: If you do math & such for health reasons, to keep your brain fit, that's cool. But if you read a bunch of history and physics books (without being forced to) just to know lots of things, that's pretentious and you're just trying to be better than us normal folks. Not sure it's a very strong argument, but curious to know what others think.
SwellJoe 18y ago
Agreed. I bought Brain Age 2 when I got a Nintendo DS, and while it's fun (and some games are more real world useful than others; the music phrase game, for example, is a good little music training tool, and it'd be cool to have a whole suite of similar games), I don't really feel any sense of accomplishment or like I've done anything useful with the time. So, it sits unused on the shelf, while Korg DS-10 and some homebrew music making software gets a lot of use on my DS. There's probably a really big business opportunity in building software of this sort for home use. The "home gym" market is obviously a gold mine (which is why so many late-night TV shysters are mining it), so this one may potentially be an even better market. The cost of software is practically zero compared to building real physical gym equipment, so I suspect very few people will continue to drive to a remote location to play these brain games. One could even do it in a way that it actually teaches real skills in subtle ways (like the music phrase game in Brain Age). Given that brain games aren't even all that graphic or sound intensive, one could even do it on the web. Though I'm guessing there's call for things like special purpose controllers and such, which would require installable products.

w1ntermute 18y ago

"Patrons pay $60 a month to work out on 20 computer stations loaded with "mental fitness" software, including a "neurobics circuit" that purports to stretch the brain." This seems a little ridiculous. Why aren't they just selling the software? Or is some specialized hardware required as well?

menloparkbum 18y ago
After looking at the website, it appears that the software is not custom, it's just stuff you can already use at home already: lumosity.com, the art dealer game, brain age, etc. It looks like they are selling the "experience" to seniors, rather than the software itself. This isn't a bad tactic, lots of retired people are looking for new ways to get out of the house and stay busy.
gcheong 18y ago
One software package called The Brain Fitness Program by Posit Science, and promoted on PBS (in a very infomercial-like manner), goes for $395 for a single-user license. It does seem to at least have some clinical studies behind it but that still seems like a lot to pay.