brain training games

There is a lot of discussion these days about using games to improve brain fitness. Recent research has indicated that this form of brain-training may be most effective when the games target specific cognitive functions. With that in mind, let’s take a moment to look at some of the different mental faculties that are most commonly exercised while playing games.

• Language – Games can exercise various aspects of our language skills. Most commonly they target vocabulary (increasing the number of words you know) and retrieval (making it easier for you to access and use them). Other games can help you learn grammar/syntax, while specially designed exercises can help you hone the auditory skills necessary for properly processing spoken language.
• Problem Solving – Many of the puzzle/strategy games on the market provide excellent opportunities to exercise your problem solving skills. Such games require you develop complex strategies and plan things out in advance, giving your prefrontal cortex a great workout and helping to improve your brain fitness.
• Memory – Memory comes in many different forms, some of which are commonly used in games. Working memory, sensory memory & motor memory are often put to work in games as you keep track of objects, locations, events and other information required to successfully play.
• Attention – Attention is central to just about any game you are playing. In a way, it is a prerequisite to all these other processes as your brain must be alert and ready before you can successfully employ other cognitive functions. Games are excellent tools to keep your mind alert (ready to process new sensory information) and focused (able to pay attention to something specific amidst myriad distractions). Before you even start playing, the mere act of learning how to play gives your attention a workout.
• Eye-hand coordination – Any game that requires extensive and quick use of your keyboard, mouse, or a game controller/joystick exercises this mental faculty. Processing visual information on the screen and translating it into accurate movements of of your hands and fingers is valuable in developing that necessary link between vision and movement.
• Visuospatial Skill – Many games require you to visually manipulate objects in space. Gameplay such as this is invaluable in developing strong spatial skills and giving your mind the ability to mentally rearrange and organize things without having to physically do it.
• Time Sensation – Tracking the duration of time is another skill that is often put to use in games. Knowing how much time has elapsed since an event occurred – or how long it will be until something happens – is an under-appreciated but very important aspect of cognition that can be improved by playing games.
• Multi-Tasking – As our lives become increasingly hectic and multi-dimensional, the ability to multi-task becomes more and more important. Many games provide a great workout for this skill as they require you to juggle multiple activities at once.
• Processing Speed – An important aspect of intelligence and brain fitness is the ability to interpret and act on information quickly. Generally, a faster brain means a sharper and better-organized mind. Games are an ideal vehicle to increase your processing speed as many of them require you to think and act with great speed.
• Pattern Recognition – The ability to identify a complex arrangement of sensory information and properly categorize it is a valuable real life skill that is often exercised in games.