Train Your Brain

You know them, the old gray thinker at age 50, and the vibrant enthusiastic 70 year old. There is no doubt that some mental ability is genetic, but there have always been those who believe that mental challenges improve mental acuity, and that individuals can stay "sharp" by exercising their brains.

Does it work? A recent trial performed by a U.S.-Swiss team used 70 healthy adults with an average age of 26, half of which were given daily mental exercises, and the other half being a control group with no exercises. Results of the study suggest that mental agility can be improved with a few daily brain teasers. Crosswords have been among the tools used by some to improve the mind, but the study team believes that computer-based tests, which challenge individual ability may prove more effective.

The volunteers who were given the daily exercises were reported to have "significant improvements" as compared to the control group who did not have the daily exercises. "The difference was most pronounced in those who had been slower to start with," as reported by Professor Walter Perrig of the University of Bern.

The specific tests involved being shown patterned squares and matching them to previously shown squares, at the same time hearing letters of the alphabet and recalling if it was the same as what was heard three letters earlier. The better the subjects performed, the harder the tasks became, but if a mistake was made the computer was less demanding. Those who took part in the exercises were also presented with problems unrelated to the computer tasks, and again performed better than the subjects in the control group.

Producers of computer-based brain exercises have long claimed that their products would improve mental agility. Few scientific studies have been performed to either prove or disprove the claims. One of Britain's best-known scientists, Baroness Susan Greenfield, recently has shown support for one of the available systems, MindFit, which has shown evidence that it produces stimulation that prompts brain cells to branch out and form new connections with other cells. Baroness Greenfield and members of the U.S.-Swiss trial all agree that regular stimulation is the key. Mental prowess is like physical prowess, you must practice to improve and excel.

If similar studies show that groups other than healthy 20-somethings can benefit from mental exercises, it could help older people who are suffering cognitive decline and youngsters with diagnosed learning disorders. And maybe the children are right; computer games really are good for you.