How to Boost Your Brain: Exercises to Develop Memory, Attention, and Thinking

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Daily 15-minute brain training will increase the reaction speed by one and a half times in one week and improve memory by 20% in 2-3 weeks. Such results are promised by the service of online simulators "Wikium".

Is it possible to improve cognitive abilities

Our brain works thanks to neurons and synapses. The former perceive and process information from the outside world, transmit it to the internal organs. The latter provide communication between neurons.

How developed our brain is depends on the number and variety of synapses.

Until about 25 years of age, the number of synapses in the human brain increases, and cognitive functions reach their peak. After this, there is a gradual degradation. This is normal: over time, not only the body ages, but also the brain.

Nevertheless, we monitor our figure, regularly visit the gym, use anti-aging creams, but forget about brain aging. And in vain: memory, attention, thinking can be trained, developed and kept in good shape just like the body.

This is confirmed by modern scientific research. Scientists from the Center for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain at Oxford University in 2009 proved A positive-negative mode of population covariation links brain connectivity, demographics and behavior. that new synapses are formed in our brain throughout life, and also revealed the relationship between the number of neural connections and the quality of human life.

People with a large number of neurons and synapses, as a rule, had a high standard of living, higher education, tried to lead a healthy lifestyle and were generally satisfied with it.

How to train your brain

There are different ways to train your brain: you can learn poetry, solve crosswords, read books. Even playing Tetris develops cognitive abilities, but only up to a certain level. However, recent research by neuropsychologists shows that the most effective way to develop the brain is cognitive training - simple exercises that pump attention, memory and thinking.

On the basis of scientific research in the field of neuropsychology, an online brain trainer “Wikium” has been created. It offers simple tasks for mindfulness, memory and reaction speed.

Exercises have a playful form to make something useful and enjoyable. Games are fun, and what is enjoyable requires a person to repeat the action.

The tasks on "Wikium" seem elementary, but as you progress through the levels, the difficulty increases. Thus, we gradually pump the brain without much effort.

What training looks like

Before training, you need to pass an introductory test. It assesses your current level of cognitive abilities and selects a personalized training program.

The workout lasts approximately 15 minutes and consists of a warm-up and basic exercises.

The machines are grouped in pairs to train specific brain abilities. For example, memory training includes 7 exercises: warm-up (to "turn on" your attention) and games to develop volume, speed and accuracy of memorization. Each game complements the previous one and takes a strictly defined place - for the best effect from the exercises.

This is what the "Find an Object" training for the development of attention looks like. You need to find the item on the shelves that you see in the frame and click on it. In 60 seconds, you must score the maximum number of points.

Another exercise for developing memory is "Signal Lights". It is necessary to remember and reproduce the sequence in which the lights come on.

The service operates on a freemium model: 9 simulators are available for free - 2 for memory, 4 for thinking and 3 for attention. Premium account holders have access to all exercises. There are 41 exercises in total on the site.

You can watch statistics of your progress and compete with other users (for example, friends). In addition to the usual exercises, there are special courses: a course on goal-setting, on the development of attention, creative thinking.

You can do it both from a computer and from a smartphone - the service supports adaptive layout of the web version for mobile devices.

Outcomes

Wikium is an interesting and useful service for developing cognitive abilities. Allocating just 15 minutes a day to class can keep your brain toned. The service is useful for people of any age. For schoolchildren - to become more attentive and better absorb information, middle-aged people - to be more productive, the elderly - to keep their sharpness and clarity of mind longer.

By the way, right now there is a New Year promotion on Wikium: you can profitably buy premium access for yourself or as a gift.