It’s gift-giving season again, and the challenge of coming up with novel gift ideas is beginning to loom. That’s where brain training software comes in. Brain training is still new enough to ensure that you’ll be buying a gift not a re-gift. And for the loved one in your life who can be a particular challenge to buy for, brain training software may be just the answer.
If you know someone who enjoys games and puzzles, brain training will make the perfect gift. An effective brain training program (we’ll get to that later) stimulates the user in such a way that his or her brain power actually increases, making the training not only enjoyable but useful, too.
On the other hand, your loved one may be on the other side of the cranial fence, so to speak, not getting much mental stimulation and beginning to suffer from the inevitable mental decline that sets in when we reach our early forties. Buying brain training software for someone in this category can be a little trickier, a bit like buying an exercise bike for someone with a few extra pounds to shed. Will the recipient be truly grateful for our loving gesture, or will he secretly wonder how much the bike will fetch on eBay. Nevertheless, for someone itching to shed those mental pounds, brain training software is just the ticket.
With brain training programs popping up in gyms, senior housing and schools, it’s clear that we’re at the start of a trend that will continue to grow. Scientific evidence has proven conclusively that the brain can grow new brain cells and change the way its wired throughout our lives. Not even our core intelligence is thought to be a static quantity any more. The opportunities for the individual (and for the gift giver!) are unlimited.
There’s only one snag. Which software to buy? Here’s where things get somewhat more difficult.
Since the brain training field is relatively new, there hasn’t yet been a shakeout in the market. Far from it. This year software vendors have been releasing new brain training products thick and fast hoping for a piece of the growing pie. For consumers this results in a minefield – high-priced products, affordable products, science-based training, pseudoscientific games. It’s all out there.
Here are a few things to look out for when researching products:
1. Does the vendor indicate the particular scientific basis for the training exercises, if so, what did the studies show? (Look out for vague or general claims.)
2. Is the software designed to require particular focus and attention with a challenging activity? These are the minimum requirements for effective brain training. And does it strengthen a broad range of cognitive skills (working-memory, speed, dual-hemisphere interaction)?
3. Does the vendor recommend a particular training schedule and does the time commitment seem reasonable to fit into the gift recipient’s schedule?
Since the field is so new, price doesn’t necessarily indicate quality or effectiveness. Some brain training programs cost several hundred dollars, while other can be had for less than $50. The market has yet to settle on a reasonable cost for a good brain training product. If the product is expensive, can you afford it, does its effectiveness seem to warrant the additional expense? If the product is affordable, is the training protocol nevertheless robust and founded on good science?
But whether you splurge big bucks or track down an affordable gem, it’s certain that your research will reward you with a unique and well received gift.
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