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Forget Brain Age: Researchers Develop Software That Makes You Smarter Alexis Madrigal in Wired Magazine.
Download Brain Workshop 4.4 for Windows XP, Vista
Brain Workshop 4.5 for Mac OS X 10.3 or higher
About Brain Workshop on SourceForge
A recent study in PNAS, an important peer-reviewed journal demonstrated that one particular brain training technique called Dual N-Back can improve working memory (short term memory) and fluid intelligence.
Link for this Post: Visit Psychologist World
Psychologist World is a new site that provides interesting and in depth exploration into a variety of areas of relevance to human psychology are explored. Those of you interested in psychology either as a scientific study or as a method of self exploration will find it worth you while to visit this free site, which includes many interesting areas of which the following are a few examples that caught my attention:
According to the folks at Psychologist World:
Human communication is 20% verbal and 80% non-verbal so if you are saying something to a person but your body language says the opposite then you're not getting your message across. This section contains a range of resources to help you master body language, understand what signals mean and to improve the signals you want to give out to convey ideas.
Psychologist World does a good job of communicating on difficult to understand areas of the human mind!
Link for this Post: Mind Games @ Venture Capital Journal
The rest of the economy may be slowing or shrinking but brain-training business is a good example of one segment that is not. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of a marketing report I found on the Sharpbrains website:
We estimate the size of the US brain fitness software market at $225M in 2007, up from $100m in 2005 (50% CAGR), analyzing the size and
trends of four customer segments: consumers, healthcare & insurance providers, K12 school systems, and fortune 1000 companies, military, and sports teams. Two segments fueled the market growth from 2005 to 2007: consumers (grew from $5m to $80m, 300% CAGR) and healthcare & insurance providers (grew from $36m to $65m, 35% CAGR).
Ten Specific Highlights from The State of the Brain Fitness Software Market 2008 report include:
1) 2007 was a seminal year for the US Brain Fitness software market, which reached $225 million in revenues – up from an estimated $100 million in 2005.
2) Over 20 companies are offering tools to assess and train cognitive skills to four customer segments: consumers; healthcare and insurance providers; K12 school systems; and Fortune 1000 companies, the military, and sports teams.
4) There is major confusion in the market, so education will be key. Users and buyers need help to navigate the maze of products and claims.
5) Over 400 residential facilities for older adults have launched computerized “brain fitness centers.” Sales to the healthcare and insurance provider segment grew from $35 million in 2005 to an estimated $65 million in 2007.
6) More than five programs have shown results in randomized controlled trials. Cognitive functions that can be trained include: visual and auditory processing, working memory, attention, and decision-making.
7) A product has obtained 510(k) FDA clearance for rehabilitation of stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury patients. Another product is being used by a growing network of ADHD specialists.
8) Large-scale, fully-automated cognitive assessments are being used in a growing number of clinical trials. This opens the way for the development of inexpensive consumer-facing, baseline cognitive assessments.
9) The potential for K12 Education remains largely untapped due to limited research linking cognitive training to academic performance.
10) Companies, sports teams and the military are finding opportunities to improve productivity. The aging workforce will make this a must.
With the boomer generation becoming seniors, this is one market that will continue to grow.
Links for this Post:
New Toys Read Brain Waves By Rachel Konrad, Associated Press in Netscape News
Brain-reading biofeedback caps on the rise, NeuroSky returns by Darren Murph in Engadget
Video on MSNBC from MSNBC: Mind-reading toys could revolutionize play (Note: they play a commercial before the video begins)
As Engadget puts it, "NeuroSky returns." I first posted about them in March 2006: NeuroSky: Convert Your Brainwaves & Eye Movements Into Useful Electronic Signals To Communicate With Electronic Devices Such As Your Phone or PC.
Continue reading "Brainwave Biofeedback Caps Ready for Prime Time -- AP -- MSNBC Video" »
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