The Science Behind Lumosity
January 13th 2011 04:11
Ever wondered about the scientific basis of Lumosity? This paper provides an overview of cognitive training research and some of the studies that demonstrate the benefits of training with Lumosity:
Joseph Hardy, PhD
Michael Scanlon
What makes effective brain training?
There are many factors that are essential to creating an effective brain training solution. A few of the most critical characteristics that make the Lumosity training programs effective are targeting, adaptivity, novelty, engagement, and completeness.
Targeting. An effective training task must be carefully targeted to train brain functions that will lead to the maximum benefit for the user in daily life. Some exercises will lead to improvements on the specific tasks trained, but not to other cognitive tasks nor to the activities of everyday life. Highly effective brain training, on the other hand, will be characterized not just by improvements on the tasks themselves, but also on transfer of that improvement to performance of real world tasks. However, no one training task will improve all aspects of cognition; so, designing effective training tasks involves carefully crafting training tasks that target the most critical aspects of brain function.
The benefits of a particular training task will depend on the underlying brain mechanisms that are being trained by that task. For example, in the Lumosity game Memory Matrix, the mechanism responsible for encoding visual working memory is exercised by challenging the user to remember the location of a series of blocks. The parts of the brain that are responsible for this ability are also critically involved in a wide array of other tasks such as remembering faces, or where you left your keys. We would expect the improvement in visual memory to aid with the performance of these tasks, but not with tasks that involve very different cognitive abilities, such as the ability to inhibit unwanted responses. Response inhibition involves very different brain mechanisms, and must be trained with a different task, such as the Lumosity game Color Match.
Adaptivity. Each individual brings his or her own unique set of strengths and weaknesses to any new task. A task that is quite easy for one person might be impossible for another. In order to derive benefit from training, however, the level of difficulty must be set at a level that is challenging without being discouraging. This level is different for each individual, and it will change over time as performance improves. This response to challenge is a central component of how the nervous system operates, and shaping the response properties of the system progressively and adaptively is a part of all effective learning processes. The critical insight for the purposes of cognitive training lies in the precise methods by which task difficulty is adjusted. Each task needs to be adapted in a way that optimizes training intensity and improvement in that domain. The ability to adjust task difficulty in response to individual users’ performance on a moment-to-moment basis is one of the key innovations in cognitive training that has been made possible by computer technology.
Each Lumosity game is designed to adaptively challenge the user.
Responses are recorded and tracked dynamically over time, both within a session and across training regimens. The level of challenge is optimized continuously for each user.
Novelty. In order for the brain to be exercised effectively, it must be confronted with novel tasks and challenges. Many of the kinds of challenges that are typically recommended for brain health, such as crossword puzzles and bridge, are highly over-learned tasks that do not force the brain’s processing systems to operate in new ways. Working in new ways that are not over-learned is critical for driving
nervous system remodeling. The brain creates specialized circuitry for doing particular tasks. Tasks that have been performed many times in the past simply reactivate the existing circuitry. This form of stimulation may be helpful in keeping the brain active, but it will not drive fundamental improvements in the way information is processed. Take the case of crossword puzzles as an example. In doing a crossword puzzle, we are recalling information we have already learned in the past, in the form of words. We are reactivating existing circuitry, not challenging the brain to work in new ways. Thus, crossword puzzles provide a relatively inefficient form of brain exercise.
Engagement. Engagement and reward are critical components of making brain games effective and encouraging people to do them. When the brain is in an engaged and rewarded state, it is much more open to learning and change. What’s more, the very process of being rewarded for correct responses in a given task teaches the brain mechanisms to process that information more effectively. The reward for correct performance tells the brain, “That worked, do that again when confronted with the same situation in the future.”
If you are rewarded for your hard work, for example by receiving praise from colleagues, friends, or family, you will be more likely to work hard in the future. This basic premise holds for both physical and mental exercise, as well. One of the biggest reasons why many of us do not exercise as much as we should is that it can really hurt. We are much more likely to engage in exercise if it is fun and feels good. All Lumosity games are designed with engagement and reward as critical components. These games are amusing and entertaining, making users much more likely to stick with the training over time.
Completeness. Many brain training programs previously available were developed in the context of a single, narrow academic framework, targeting a neural system with highly specialized training. However, the brain is a highly complex, interacting, and integrated system. Training on a limited aspect of brain function, such as visual attention, auditory processing, or working memory, in isolation is unlikely to yield optimal results for real world function. Engaging in the tasks of daily living – working, going to school, caring for loved ones, recreating, etc. – requires the proper functioning of all aspect of cognition. If information is not processed rapidly, then rapidly evolving events, such as the plot of an action movie, will fly past and be missed. If this information is never properly processed, then it will not capture one’s attention, and will likely not be stored in memory. Similarly, if attention is limited, and cognitive energy and effort are not being properly allocated, then critical information and events, such as the key plot twists in the movie, will be missed. Finally, if memory systems are not functioning optimally, even attended-to information may not be retained over time, and it will be impossible to pull together disparate information - such as plot twists into a coherent whole. Even in the simple case of watching an action film, all aspects of brain function must work together to lead to optimal understanding and appreciation.
To achieve a complete brain training experience, Lumosity.com includes an integrated and ever-growing suite of web-based tools, including dozens of assessments, games, and courses. The games are developed to train five core areas of cognitive function: processing speed, attention, memory, flexibility, and problem solving. Training across these domains is coordinated in the form of courses. These
courses guide users through a training experience over 20-40 sessions in which complementary functional domains are exercised together to provide maximal benefit toward a specific goal, such as improving memory or getting better grades in school. The assessments allow users, researchers, and clinicians to assess cognitive function and direct training toward the greatest points of need. In this way, Lumosity represents a complete brain training solution that can yield benefits far beyond any single tool used in isolation. In a sense, this is similar to the difference between having a single piece of exercise equipment and having access to the whole gym, along with a personal trainer.
The Lumosity Product
The Lumosity product suite (www.lumosity.com) includes games, courses, assessments, and the supporting material that helps guide users through their training. Each element of this product experience is tailored to work as an integrated component of the complete brain training system. In addition to the Lumosity website, Lumos Labs has produced a cluster of complementary products that make it easy for users to train wherever they are, whenever they have a moment. These complementary offerings include iPhone, Palm Pre, Facebook, and Yahoo! applications.
Games
The centerpieces of the Lumosity brain training experience are the games. The principles of targeting, adaptivity, novelty, engagement, and completeness are embodied in this suite of games. Each game targets a critical component of brain function. The games are adaptive, increasing challenge as performance improves, and backing off when incorrect responses are made. The games are novel experiences challenging the brain in ways that encourage new connections and improved efficiency. The scientists at Lumos Labs work closely with game developers to create tasks that are both highly effective brain training and highly engaging games. Taken together, the entire suite of games represents a complete brain training system – an entire gym for the brain. There are games training speed of processing, memory, attention, mental flexibility, and problem solving.
| 30 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
