Can games improve intelligence and keep your mind fit? Those that spend hours on them per day claim yes. However, some medical experts say that they will only help you get better at the tasks you are repeatedly performing and not improve overall brain skills like language, memory, spatial awareness, and attention.
A 2010 study published in the journal Nature, titled Putting Brain Training to the Test, included 11,430 women and men. In it, every participant got assigned one of three internet mind exercise programs for six weeks. Each of these programs focused on different sets of tasks in problem-solving, planning, and reasoning. Following the conclusion of the six weeks, the participants in the latter two groups showed no improvement in general cognitive ability compared to before the study started. Other research has reproduced similar results. So, playing games that only require concentration will not help you stay sharp. Your mind needs activities that demand problem-solving, intellectual focus, and creative thinking to ward off decline and improve brainpower. Below, we list five apps that can help you do just that.
Lumosity
When it comes to brain tickler software, Lumosity is king. It is by far the most famous cognitive training mobile application out there, one that its marketing team claims got develop by leading researchers who boiled down tried-and-tested techniques into easy-to-learn games. In a decade, Lumosity has amassed over one hundred million members notching thousands of glowing reviews. Its massive selling point is that the app can tailor a specific training plan to fit each individual’s needs. It is super popular with those struggling with A.D.H.D promising that it can broadly improve quality of life by teaching users how to concentrate on specific future assignments. Lumosity gets listed under the educational category where it does not have to compete against mobile gaming giants like Zynga.
CogniFit – Test &Brain Games
Same as Lumosity, CogniFit also offers personalized brain training programs. These involve solving mentally challenging tasks that put your problem-solving and logic skill to the test. There are over twenty such mental games featured in this app, and they aim to improve coordination, memory, and attention. The dedicated programs included daily exercises that stimulate each user’s specific cognitive needs, based on his profile results. Users can track their progress and performance via their app account page. Over 3.5 million people use CogniFit, and its developers advertise it as suitable for anyone over the age of seven.
Blackjack 21: House of Blackjack
Blackjack is the world’s most established casino table game. That is mainly due to the perception that skill plays a factor at tables of twenty-one. Unfortunately, that notion is not 100% accurate because there is no skill in blackjack, only the implementation of strategy, which entails memorizing charts outlining the best possible moves in all scenarios. Per a study conducted by the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois, blackjack can be good for the brain because it has rigorous mental demands such as instant memory recall and arithmetic competency. Blackjack 21: House of Blackjack from NeoWiz is only one of many apps that feature this casino classic. You can download whichever one best suits your taste, as they all feature the same gameplay and rules. Alternatively, you can practice with online blackjack using dummy money. You do not have to register or install anything.
Happify
The tagline Happify uses to hook users is the alleged stat that 86% of people that regularly use this app start feeling better about their lives in under two months. It strives to help users overcome negative thoughts and stress. It does so by utilizing techniques developed by cognitive behavior scientists that aim to break old patterns and form new habits. While these will not boost your intelligence, they will help you achieve mindfulness and increase your self-confidence, which in turn can improve your emotional well-being, giving you peace of mind. Happify contains over thirty audio tracks and provides a twenty-page character strength report for each user that it creates with the VIA Institute. It also lets you monitor your progress to see how your skills compare day-on-day.
Eidetic – Spaced Repetition
Instead of delivering an all-in-one mind-exercising software, Eidetic chooses to put its focus on only one brain faculty, memory. It implements a flash card-type approach to aid its users in memorizing everything, from facts to phone numbers. Eidetic has a simple-to-use system for users to jog down their content in simple categories, letting them store and then memorize whatever’s relevant. It notifications users when it is time to test their memory, incorporating three intensity testing levels, Cram, Normal, and Casual. It is perfect for students who want to retain specific information in a long-term memory bank.
About the Author
Shelly Schiff has been working in the gambling industry since 2009, mainly on the digital side of things, employed by OnlineUnitedStatesCasinos.com. However, over her eleven-year career, Shelly has provided content for many other top interactive gaming websites. She knows all there is to know about slots and has in-depth knowledge of the most popular table games. Her golden retriever Garry occupies most of her leisure time. Though, when she can, she loves reading Jim Thompson-like crime novels.
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