Brain Training Program

The key to a good a brain training program or mental exercise regime is to include novelty, challenge and variety.

Think of it as:

Cross Training For The Brain!

At the very least we should be doing something to exercise our brain daily. If we do the same thing every day, our brain will not be challenged and we may not be losing that cognitive function, but we may be losing others.

Playing games of strategy like chess and bridge for example, exercise our spatial, memory and planning skills.

Is a game of chess enough to create new and varied challenges in all areas of cognitive skills such as:

• attention and focus
• conceptual skills
• listening skills
  
• motor control
• problem solving
• visual/spatial skills
• working memory

What is a balanced Brain Training Program?

Any brain training program should aim to:

• assess your current brain fitness
• create a tailored program to develop and challenge both your strengths and weaknesses,
• continually adapt to provide novelty, variety and challenge, and
• provide feedback so you can see your progress.

A balanced brain training workout should cover:

• motor coordination
• memory
• attention and focus
• processing of sensory inputs
• communication
• language skills
• mental visualisation.

As you can see this is not quite as simple as it first seemed, but technology brings us solutions!

Software, is one of the best ways to deliver such a structured and tailored program.

The simplest form is something like the Ninetendo DS or Wii Brain Training programs

Online programs however, have much more power and adaptability. They can assess your abilities and structure your program for a comprehensive work out. They adapt to your performance and keep on challenging you as you progress they are the ultimate in mental cross training!

What Should I look For In An Online Brain Training Program?

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