Brain Training

In My Humble Opinion
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Basically my question is, does anyone have any personal experience to offer on any of these trending brain training sites (Lumosity, Mind Sparke, etc.)? Would you recommend it to a college-bound junior in high school, in order to maximize grades, SAT/ACT scores, and how much I learn from now on out through the end of college?

Also, I doubt the research is out there for anyone to answer this question but, by any chance does anybody know of any possibility that brain training can maximize one’s cognitive function if they do a lot of it before their brain is finished developing? They say the frontal lobe of your brain, responsible for attention&short term memory etc. does not finish developing until your about 25, and I’m wondering if training it while it’s developing can maximize its function for life. Now lumosity seems to focus on neuroplasticity, and altering neuroplasticity during development seems like it could maybe do this.

An article I read that discredits brain training, http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/thinking-tech/q-a-new-evidence-shows-brain-training-games-dont-work/11758, basically says that brain training can drastically improve crystallized intelligence (logic, in a nutshell) but that fluid intelligence (intuitive, in a nutshell) cannot be improved. The headline states that the brain training doesn’t work, but drastic improvements in crystallized intelligence sounds extremely beneficial to me. ? Especially for my purposes.

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To express it another way, playing a brain-training game gives you the benefit of being cleverer… at playing that brain training game.

If you are looking to improve your “crystallized” intelligence, you should focus on learning to do things which have some intrinsic utility or other value for you. It takes the same amount of mental effort, but the benefit is direct and tangible, unlike the chimerical, insubstantial benefits offered by brain-training games.

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Welcome, poopbutt!

I used Lumosity for a few sessions a couple years ago. I recall that they were quick on the upsell, and that their front page had no indication that it was a pay service. I understand everybody has to make a living, but if you won’t or can’t spend any money, or all the exhortations to open your wallet will make the service look suspect to you, then you should keep that in mind.

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Since the OP is asking for opinions, let’s move this to IMHO.

Colibri
General Questions Moderator

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sorry 'bout that, 'tis my first post to my first forum