Blog

Back to previous page

Brain Fitness

Training for brain fitness is a relatively new phenomenon. In fact, until fairly recently, it was widely believed that the human brain developed during childhood and remained largely unchanged for life. Science has now irrefutably proven that the brain can and does change its physical form and function in response to new stimuli throughout a person’s lifespan. In medical terms, this organic process is referred to as ‘neuroplasticity’ or 'brain plasticity’.

 

 

Brain plasticity and aging

Cognitive decline or brain aging process starts in our mid to late 20s and there is evidence that four interrelated factors are the cause of cognitive decline as follows:

• Brain disuse
  As we age, our activity level typically declines both physically and mentally. Even if we continue to be mentally active, we often participate only in activities we have already mastered. This results in less overall stimulation for sensory, cognitive and motor systems. Like a muscle, the brain deteriorates without appropriate exercise. People have to “use it or lose it.”
• Noisy processing
  A natural consequence of aging is that the sensory input from all systems [auditory, visual and tactile (sense of touch)] degrades, therefore they don’t provide the clear “input” our brains need to create clear representations of what we hear, see or otherwise sense. In order to continue detecting signals, our central nervous system adapts to this low quality input. With this adaptation however, the background noise level will also increase.
• Reduced production of brain chemicals
  Another consequence of aging is reduced production of neurotransmitters or brain chemicals. These chemicals are necessary for learning and memory. The neuromodulatory system acts as a gating system for brain plasticity. When neuromodulator production occurs at the appropriate times, the gates are open, allowing the plastic changes that enable learning. When neuromodulator production is down all the time, the gates close, weakening the brain’s control over its ability to learn. Low neuromodulator production can trap the brain in potentially inappropriate or unhelpful patterns.
• Negative Learning
  Brain disuse, noisy processing and weakened neuromodulatory control interact to make new or demanding activities more challenging to perform. As a result, individuals often adapt their behaviours in ways which reinforce the negative aspects of their cognitive processing. For example, when auditory reception declines, individuals often become adept lip-readers, and rely on context to understand what they hear. The result is that the fundamental skill becomes even weaker over time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taken together, brain disuse, noisy processing, weakened neuromodulatory control and negative learning result in a brain that is less capable of receiving and representing incoming stimuli, and therefore, less able to store and recall it. This can have dramatic effects on quality of life, decreasing a person’s overall mental and physical vitality.

 

Brain fitness

Today, most of us have heard about the need to keep our mind active as part of an overall health regimen. There are of course a good number of ways we can keep our brain in shape. While all these can and do contribute to some degree of brain fitness, using clinically-proven, targeted plasticity-based brain exercises will result in the highest impact, long term benefits.

Among scientists who contributed to the field of brain plasticity is the renowned neuroscientist Dr. Michael Merzenich who is often called “the father of brain plasticity”. Dr. Merzenich was a pioneer in applying principles of brain plasticity to assist children with language, learning and reading skills, and in later years shifted his research to the adult brain, demonstrating that under the right circumstances, the power of plasticity can help mature minds grow.

In 2003, under his leadership, a global team of over 50 scientists developed a set of computerized exercises that have been the subject of dozens of independent, university-based studies. Published in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals, the over 70 published articles demonstrate a broad array of cognitive benefits. Those exercises are now offered online under the name of BrainHQ by Posit Science Corporation and their Canadian partner DynamicBrain Inc. in English and French.

The BrainHQ brain exercises focus on six core areas: Memory, Attention, Intelligence, Brain Speed, Navigation and People Skills.

Scientists from the MAYO Clinic, led research on the clinical effectiveness of the BrainHQ exercises in the largest study ever of its kind involving 524 participants. The study called IMPACT focused on answering specific empirical questions, including:

• Can exercising the brain make positive changes for health?
• Does the type of brain training exercise make a difference?

 

 

 

The impressive test results shown here cast any lingering shadows of doubt aside:

• Memory improved on average 10 years
• Auditory system improved on average 131%

 

 

 

ACTIVE is another large study with 2,832 participants and conducted using BrainHQ exercises demonstrating significant results including:

• Visual system improved on average 300%
• Useful ‘Field of View’ increased on average 200%
• Car accident risks reduced on average 55%

 

 

 

 

These scientifically-validated results and other research studies clearly demonstrate BrainHQ is in a class of its own when it comes to transferring cognitive gains made in the brain training arena to real world, practical applications.

As the oft-repeated saying goes, ‘the only constant in life is change’. In this technology-driven era of evermore complexity, speed and information overload, who could not benefit from improved brain skills for navigating the modern world?

In the words of Dr. Merzenich, “brain fitness is about retaining your vitality, your zest for life, your independence, yourself. It is all about giving your brain an excellent opportunity to last as long as your physical body. It is about living longer, alive, full of it, fun, still intense, still confident, independent, still growing, more capable and more interesting next week and next year.”

Be sure to check back with us next week as we focus on the health benefits of socializing.

 

DynamicBrain Inc. is the Canadian Partner of Posit Science Corporation providing brain fitness program, BrainHQ in English and French.