Brain Health Blog

Coming Soon: More BPIs!

November 3, 2009

You’ve been playing our new Lumosity games, and we’ve been working behind the scenes to collect data and generate BPI (Brain Performance Index) scales for them. Now we’re gearing up to integrate some of our more recent games into the BPI system on our site.

So what does all this mean for you?

As you play some of our newer Lumosity games, you may notice adjustments to your overall BPI, brain area BPIs (such as Memory and Attention), attribute BPIs (such as Visual Field and Focus) as well as individual game BPI histories. For example, playing Memory Match Overload will now affect your BPI for that individual game as well as for the larger categories it is a part of. Lumosity subscribers can check their Memory Match Overload BPI history at any time by logging into lumosity.com, accessing “Your Profile,” clicking on the “History” tab,  selecting “Memory,” clicking the “Working Memory” attribute, and choosing “Memory Match Overload” from the drop-down box. Because Memory Match Overload is a Working Memory game, playing it will affect the BPI for the Working Memory attribute and the more expansive Memory category, as well as your overall BPI. You can check your category and attribute BPI history from the History section within “Your Profile.”

memorymatchoverloadbpi

Don’t be discouraged if your overall BPI drops a bit after playing one of our newer games: like all Lumosity activities, practice will lead to improvement, and eventually, a higher BPI. We’ll be integrating games into our BPI system during the upcoming weeks, starting with Memory Match Overload.

Rotation Matrix will be coming next; it’s a challenging game, so you might want to practice it a bit before we include it in the BPI system! We’ll make sure to update this post each time we add another game to our BPI system, so keep checking back!

And as always, if you’re curious about how we calculate BPI scales, or could use a refresher, you can learn more about it here.

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By Ben | Posted in Brain Games, Lumos Labs | Comments (12)

Intelligence Training Comes to Lumosity

November 3, 2009

Dual N-Back

Can you actually become more intelligent?  For years, neuroscientists thought that this basically didn’t happen.  According to this view, you can take in more information and learn new things, but you can’t really become “more intelligent.”  Recent research conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan shows that this old view is probably dead wrong.

Susanne Jaeggi, Martin Buschkuehl, and their colleagues at Michigan did a study looking at what happens when people play a challenging working memory task called Dual N-Back.  They found that after training on this task for 25 minutes a day for a few weeks, the young adults in their study actually scored much better on tests of fluid intelligence – the ability to creatively solve new problems.  Fluid intelligence is part of standard IQ tests, so we can say that these subjects actually increased their intelligence following this training.

The Dual N-Back training is now available (free for a limited time) on Lumosity!  We have worked closely with Dr. Jaeggi and Dr. Buschkuehl to create a version of the Dual N-Back training that replicates what was used in their earlier study.  And, we’re going to support their ongoing research by hosting the program which will be used in their studies of intelligence training going forward.

Try it for yourself, but be warned: this training is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard! But the effort is worth it. After you’ve started, why not share your experiences with other users in our dual n-back forum?

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By Ben | Posted in Brain Games, Brain Research, Memory | Comments (2)

Rev up your arithmetic with Subtraction Storm

October 19, 2009

It’s raining cupcakes! But don’t worry, we brought enough to share. In Subtraction Storm, you’ll train arithmetic by solving subtraction equations and keeping the cupcakes from hitting the ground.

Subtraction Storm, a yummy math game.

Give it a try and send some feedback our way; it’s free to all members for a limited time only!

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By Ben | Posted in Brain Games, Neuroscience | Comments (2)

Tell Us Your Story and Be Entered to Win a Lumosity Lifetime Membership

September 28, 2009

We love hearing stories about how Lumosity has improved our users’ cognitive abilities and changed their lives. If you have a Lumosity story to share, submit it here: http://www.lumosity.com/testimonials.

Here’s an example of a touching testimonial that we recently received from Dr. David Darbro. Dr. Darbro suffered from a stroke in 2005, and he now uses Lumosity to regain lost mental function.

“Imagine not being able to speak … you are driving home one night when suddenly out of the blue your speech becomes gibberish….then imagine what it would be like to not be able to remember what number comes after 1,2,3,4,…. That description describes what I experienced in 2005. A week or so after I went into atrial fibrillation I had a stroke that hospitalized me.

Ever since that time I have been working to regain lost mental function. Knowing that about my history hopefully allows you to understand my enthusiasm for your program. Lumosity provides me with a guide that is helping me restore lost cognitive function I suffered on that night in July 2005. Lumosity’s method for cognitive improvement contains games that are fun to take; challenge one’s mental performance; and at the same time encourage one to excel and outdo one’s previous best score.

It has been said that “no pain no gain” is as true in training the body as it is in training the brain. I believe there is some truth to that saying, and is why I work diligently taking these exercises daily and drive myself and sweat over them. The investment in time and effort required to blow out the mental cobwebs is yielding rewards. Exercising my brain to improve my mental status provides me with the confidence to go about my life. I know that nothing great is accomplished without hard work. And I also know that “if you don’t use it you will lose it.” I believe the Lumosity mental tests are keeping me from “losing it”. The tests aim at improving skill in attention, memory, speed, mental flexibility, and problem solving. These five basic skills are needed if we are to function well in today’s fast paced life. Not only am I regaining mental skills during my refreshing mental workout, but also my daily progress is documented. This documentation provides an objective measure of my brain’s healing. I can document the fact that I am regaining previously lost mental function. I am most thankful.

As a medical physician who is oriented to wellness I have a passion to help my patients and others regain lost function as I have done. Because mental functioning comprises a huge part of wellness I purpose to recommend your service to my patients and others. In short, the Lumosity method is a program of mental training that provides we members with a delightful way to prepare for whatever challenges life may have in store during our brief pilgrimage above sod. Thank you all for making this service available to us all.”

- Dr. David Darbro

Dr. David Darbro, Age 73

Dr. David Darbro, Age 73

Tell us YOUR story! 

Submit your story by 11 PM PST on Saturday, October 31st, you’ll be automatically entered to win a Lumosity Lifetime Membership. One Lumosity Lifetime Membership will be awarded to one winner selected by a random drawing from all testimonials received during the month of October 2009. The winner will be notified via email by 12 PM PST on Friday, November 6th. This promotion is void where prohibited by law.

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By jnguyen | Posted in Cognitive Performance | Comments (13)

Improve your Planning skills with Route to Sprout

September 14, 2009

What are you planning for? Whether you’re making arrangements for a trip to the grocery store, a weekend getaway, or a year abroad, chances are you’re making plans for something. But if we plan ahead so frequently, why do our best laid plans so often go awry?

From a cognitive perspective, “planning” can actually involve several brain attributes, including working memory, spatial recall, and logical reasoning. With all of these things in play, it’s no wonder that choosing your next few moves in a game of chess can seem like a monumental task.

Route to Sprout

That’s why we’ve designed Route to Sprout, a new game that challenges you to move a seed to its planting hole using the most efficient path you can find. If you take the time to figure out the optimal route, you’ll earn extra points and give your planning skills a workout at the same time.

Give it a try, and let us know what you think!

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By Ben | Posted in Brain Games, Neuroscience | Comments (36)

Eating fish may reduce risk of stroke

September 9, 2009

By Gregory Kellett, a cognitive neuroscience researcher at SFSU and UCSF, and science writer for Lumos Labs.

Eating lots of fish, the ultimate brain food, was recently associated with reduced risk of stroke.

A study conducted by Jyrki Virtanen and his crew at the University of Kuopio in Finland found that people who ate more fish tended to have fewer strokes. Virtanen looked at a population of 2,313 participants over the age of 65 who had their brains scanned (via MRI) twice, with a 5-year lapse between scans. After analyzing answers the participants gave to diet-related questionnaires the researchers found that:

  • Those eating fish 3 or more times a week had fewer sub-clinical infarcts or “mini-strokes” than those eating fish less than once a month.
  • Consuming more fish was associated with more intact brain white matter.
  • Fried fish is not so healthy, and seemed to negate the above benefits.

As seen in other research studying healthy brain food, omega-3 fatty acids, which are present in most fish oils, seem to be a key contributor to lowering the risk of stroke.

Reference: Virtanen, J. K., Siscovick, D. S., Longstreth, W. T., Kuller, L. H., & Mozaffarian, D. (2008). Fish consumption and risk of subclinical brain abnormalities on MRI in older adults. Neurology, 71(6), 439-446.

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By Gregory Kellett | Posted in Aging, Brain Health, Brain Research, Uncategorized | Comments (6)

Brain Hydration

July 1, 2009

By Gregory Kellett, a cognitive neuroscience researcher at SFSU and UCSF, and science writer for Lumos Labs.

Your brain is made up of 60% water and many of us may not be drinking enough of the clear wet stuff to keep our thinking “juicy.”

Not drinking enough water has detrimental effects on our brains. When your body lacks water, brain cells and other neurons shrink and biochemical processes involved in cellular communication slow. A drop of as little as 1 to 2% of fluid levels can result in slower processing speeds, impaired short-term memory, tweaked visual tracking and deficits in attention.

With proper hydration however, neurons work best and are capable of reacting faster.

What constitutes proper hydration is controversial. Some say that it is important to imbibe 8 tall glasses of water daily, while others claim that one should only drink when thirsty.

In fact, there is no one golden rule to staying well hydrated. The amount of water each of us needs varies from person to person as it depends on each individual’s physiology and lifestyle activities like diet and exercise.

Experiment and see what feels good. In today’s world of infinite distractions however, it is best not to leave hydration to your sense of thirst alone. It is also important to note that your ability to notice thirst typically diminishes with age.

Also of note:

  • Sweating from exercise or high temperatures can result in more than 3 liters an hour of fluid loss.
  • The maximum amount of water the body is capable of absorbing is 1 liter an hour or 330 milliliters every 20 min (the ideal amount to drink under high sweat conditions).
  • Although good for energy, foods high in protein and sugar increase the body’s need for water.

Warning!

Drinking too much water is very dangerous! Over-hydration causes a sodium imbalance that can be fatal. It is common for marathon runners to be hospitalized because of overzealous hydration during the race.

Approach fluid consumption with moderation.

References:

Armstrong, L. E., & Epstein, Y. (1999). Fluid-electrolyte balance during labor and exercise: concepts and misconceptions. International Journal of Sport Nutrition, 9(1), 1-12.

Kleiner, S. M. (1999). Water: an essential but overlooked nutrient. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 99(2), 200-6.

Lang, F., Busch, G. L., Ritter, M., Völkl, H., Waldegger, S., Gulbins, E., et al. (1998). Functional significance of cell volume regulatory mechanisms. Physiological Reviews, 78(1), 247-306.

Lieberman, H. R. (2007). Hydration and cognition: a critical review and recommendations for future research. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 26(5 Suppl), 555S-561S.

Maughan, R. J., Shirreffs, S. M., & Watson, P. (2007). Exercise, heat, hydration and the brain. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 26(5 Suppl), 604S-612S.

Murray, R. (1998). Rehydration strategies–balancing substrate, fluid, and electrolyte provision. International Journal of Sports Medicine, 19 Suppl 2, S133-5.

Suhr, J. A., Hall, J., Patterson, S. M., & Niinistö, R. T. (2004). The relation of hydration status to cognitive performance in healthy older adults. International Journal of Psychophysiology: Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology, 53(2), 121-5.

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By Gregory Kellett | Posted in Brain Health | Comments (1)

The power of brain plasticity

June 26, 2009

This article was contributed by Paul Li, who teaches cognitive science at UC Berkeley.

The human brain is quite remarkable. It does not remain static, but instead ceaselessly changes throughout life. Everything you learn or experience impacts the biology of your brain.

Though some cognitive abilities typically begin to decline in the third decade of life, cortical plasticity renews our hope that new connections can be willfully forged. For example, there was a little girl who was born with very little cortical tissue. Doctors did not see much of a future for her because she did not have a “normal” brain; however, because of cortical plasticity and the brain’s ability to reorganize itself, she learned to function quite well (Distelmaier et al., 2007).

The article highlighted that this “case teaches us that clinicians and parents should not give up in the face of an apparently hopeless case!”

In a previous post, Almost No Brain, a man managed to lead a normal life despite having minimal gray matter inside his skull. These two cases show how amazingly adaptable the brain is. The ability to shift the nature-nurture tension toward the nurture side is empowering for us, and provides hope even in the face of serious abnormalities of the brain.

References:
Distelmaier et al., “How Much Brain Is Really Necessary?” A Case of Complex Cerebral Malformation and Its Clinical Course, J Child Neurol 2007; 22; 756

Special thanks to Bradley Voytek, Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, Berkeley, for his assistance.

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By Paul Li | Posted in Brain Games, Cognitive Psychology, Neuroscience | Comments (0)