The science behind Brain Trainer

Until recently, most neuroscientists and psychologists believed that core aspects of cognitive processing were essentially fixed from a young age, with little or no room for improvement. Capacities like memory, attention, and sensory processing were thought to be largely determined after a relatively brief period of early development. In this worldview, those endowed with strong cognitive capacities through genetics and early development were destined to operate at a high level throughout much of their lives. Those not so fortunately endowed were out of luck.

The emerging science of the brain is dramatically changing the way we view these issues. We now understand that, with the right kind of stimulation and activity, the brain can dramatically change and remodel itself to become more efficient and effective in processing information, paying attention, remembering, thinking creatively, and solving novel problems.

Lumos Labs — the company behind Lumosity and Lumosity Brain Trainer — has used this cutting edge science to create a set of web-based and iPhone-based software tools that empower people to exercise their brains and achieve their maximum performance. The assessments, games, and training courses on the Lumosity website (www.lumosity.com) and on the iPhone platform are based on real science and are presented in an appealing, engaging form that make it fun to exercise the brain. Lumosity is being used as a platform technology for investigating the impact of cognitive training in a variety of populations. Results indicate that this training can improve a wide variety of core cognitive skills — from attention and memory to fluid intelligence and math skills. These improved abilities can help people do better in school, perform more effectively at work, and live a more productive life.

Ongoing research

Lumos Labs supports external, independent research by making available the Lumosity training and assessments, as well as offering data capture and analysis support. Groups currently using the platform span the range of interest in cognition from those engaged in research in school children to those interested in geriatric issues and from populations of normal, healthy participants to a variety of patient groups.

Here are just a few examples of ongoing research with Lumosity:

• Maurice Finn (University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia) is exploring the effects of Lumosity training in older adults suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
• Dr. Adam Gazzaley (Director of the Neuroscience Imaging Center at UCSF) is using Lumosity to investigate age-related changes in memory function.
• Two groups are using Lumosity tools to conduct research on issues related to behavioral economics. These groups are headed up by Dr. George Lowenstein (Carnegie Mellon University) and Dr. Eric Johnson (Columbia University). Dr. Lowenstein’s group is using Lumosity training as a healthy behavior in their study investigating the effects of economic incentives in motivating healthy behaviors. Dr. Johnson’s group is looking at correlates between decision making processes and performance on Lumosity games.
• Dr. Chris Johnson (Naval Health Research Center at UCSD) is using Lumosity to help soldiers recover from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.