In recent years, neuroscientists have discovered one very important truth about the human brain: if you don’t use it, you lose it. And they mean that literally, too. If you don’t use certain parts of your brain on a regular basis, the cells and neurons attached to that part of the brain and the skill it controls will begin to atrophy. And once they do, it can be very difficult – if not impossible – to build them back up again.
This fact is the basis behind brain-training games, such as those designed and sold by Lumosity. The games are easily accessible through your computer or smart phone. In as little as 15 minutes per day, Lumosity claims that playing their brain-training games can improve cognition, memory, and problem solving skills. They also assert that they have scientific evidence to back up these claims. But how effective are Lumosity training exercises? We’ll delve into the answer here in this review.
How does Lumosity Work?
Lumosity doesn’t have any ingredients. It is not a nutritional supplement that you take; it is an electronic computer program that you interact with. According to the company, Lumosity works because this interaction triggers the brain to maintain cognitive functioning, and even improve it somewhat over time. Their website displays summaries of 13 peer-reviewed papers, some of which have studied Lumosity games specifically, which reportedly prove the efficacy of their programs.
*All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.
Lumosity and Memory
The Lumosity brain-training games are designed to enhance a variety of different cognitive functions. One of those, of course, is improving your memory. However, there’s a big difference between playing a “match the shapes” card game on your computer remembering important dates or where you parked your car at the mall. According to the science, it is unclear whether improving one with a virtual game will enhance other memory-related functions of the brain as well.
Does Lumosity Really Work?
Honestly, it’s a little bit difficult to say for certain. There are respectable, peer-reviewed studies on both sides of the issue. Some studies say that Lumosity works. Other studies claim that playing Portal 2 is better for your cognitive functionality than any of these brain-training games are. It’s fair to say that the research on this subject is somewhat inconclusive.
*All individuals are unique. Your results can and will vary.
But there are two important factors to keep in mind when discussing Lumosity games and brain health. For one, unlike nootropic supplements, these games aren’t providing your brain with any of the nutrition it needs to physically strengthen the neural pathways and encourage healthy synaptic activity. In a way, it’s similar to lifting weights without adding protein to your diet. You’re doing only one of many things that you need to do in order to meet your health goals.
Speaking of exercise, most scientific research out there shows that physical activity is far better for maintaining brain health than anything else, including brain-training games. But if you are dedicating part of your day to sitting in front of a computer screen, that’s taking away from time you could put towards getting good, quality exercise.
Feed your hungry brain the nutrition it deserves. Check out our product reviews for nootropic supplements designed to enhance cognitive function and memory here.
