Lumosity.com has quickly become one the most popular brain strengthening websites since its launch in 2007. In fact, it’s pretty safe to assume that the average TV watcher has seen at least one commercial since its launch. Lumosity’s claim is that they use well-defined problems to strengthen user’s brain while making these problems seem more like games then something only Richard Feynman could solve.
I never ventured on to this site, although I have been meaning to for years. So one night this week, sparked by this week’s lesson on problem solving, I decided to give it a try. Although Lumosity’s site features areas to strengthen memory, attention, speed, flexibly, and problem solving, my concentration was on memory and problem solving games. Initially like most sites, in order to enjoy the benefits you have to create an account. After a few short questions you will be asked to take a ‘Fit Test’ to determine your starting point. I was amazed (although I guess I shouldn’t have been) at how many of these tests were based on the ‘demonstration’ from key researchers in my cognitive psychology textbook! For example problems similar to such as the Triangle Problem and Chain Problem presented by Metcalfe and Wiebe. I will note to anyone who hasn’t been on the site that after your ‘Fit Test’ in order to go any further you have to purchase a subscription. Although prices are extremely reasonable; as low as five dollars a month.
Lumonosity’s site is based on neuroscience (according to the founders), so it’s no surprise that many of the problems would be familiar to anyone who has taken a cognitive psychology course. The critics are on both sides of the ring when it comes to whether Lumonsity’s site will actually improve your brain strength. Although several researchers have found increased activity in the pre-frontal cortex of the brain, followed by increased scores in visual and verbal declarative scores. There are also studies that suggest the site has helped patients with Alzheimers and Turner’s disease. Still many suggest that the sites clinical studies only represent a very small sample of the population. Which in all fairness is a very common statistical stretch made by many companies who are fully aware the average person is not highly educated in statistical analysis.
Luminosity probably won’t make you an expert in for example, physics. As demonstrated by Micheline Chi who tested physicists, and one time physics class students to 24 physics problems. An expert in the field simply has a different understanding and operating strategy than novices. There certainly is no harm in testing your skills with Luminosity’s ‘brain challenging’ games. Although I will admit some of them become painfully addicting.
Learn more about Lumosity.com to include statistical data, facts, and more at Lumosity.com
Very interesting. I went to this site after reading your post, logged in and tried it out. The games seemed easy enough in the sense that it was easy to understand the rules and took very little time to pick up. I wanted to try a few more, but it seems the creators of the site also know how to prey on the addictive nature of the human species with “pay to play more” incentives. For now, I am content to enjoy the free parts of the site and return to explore more the next day.
My curiosity about the site, however, would not be easily sated.
I did some research online to find more information and opinions about Luminosity.com and other similar websites. In particular, I focused on scientific research and experiments regarding the validity and effectiveness of “brain-training” exercises to see if it would be worth investing my time and/or money. The results were mixed though the majority were non-conclusive; the only significant outcome for most of the subjects involved in the tests were that they got better at those particular games they played.
One article that I came across in particular had a lot to say about those studies, as well as personal experience using that site. Elizabeth Day, a journalist for the Observer Review, took an interesting look at research that challenges the effectiveness of online brain-training. She noted that “those who regularly played video games did better in short-term memory capacity and reasoning”. The entire article is worth a read, but her conclusions suggested that more research was required.
Day, Elizabeth. “Online brain-training: Does it really work?”. April 2008. http://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/apr/21/brain-training-online-neuroscience-elizabeth-day. Web. 2014.