It's something that's been going on for a long time. It gives the feeling that, sometimes, playing and training can go hand in hand. And we are not only referring to physical training, but also mental. For some reason, it seems that having fun and getting something better, in this case aspects related to the brain, works well among many users. And a great proof of this is Lumosity, a game born with the clear objective of strengthening the gray matter. In fact, the enormous success that this proposal has been achieving for some time, shows that the interest of the public.
In this article we are not only going to discuss in depth what Lumosity is and what it really offers, but also to assess some of the main alternatives that currently exist. Because to tell the truth, applications with more or less similar initiatives are the order of the day, each with its own characteristics, but also with common elements.
What is Lumosity?
Basically, Lumosity could be defined as a selection of games to enhance different abilities of the mind. Which ones exactly? Well, memory, attention, observation or the speed to solve problems. In fact, the game has the particularity of adapting to those exercises that each user values the most. It is often said that the brain is like a muscle, even though it is an organ, and how it can be trained. Lumosity endorses that idea, and raises it offering games that, how could it be otherwise, tend to be entertaining.
If memory is remembered, never better said in the case at hand, this is not the first similar idea that has arisen. A few years ago, the Japanese company Nintendo itself developed the Brain Training game for its popular Nintendo DS portable, which consisted of practically the same thing. The launch was a resounding success, and even brought the game console closer to users who had rarely or never played a video game. For these reasons, it is not surprising that Lumosity has become a triumph for its developers.
Lumosity, or how to exercise the brain
When one goes to train at a gym, the first thing that is usually done is for a monitor to decide the best personalized training. No body is the same as another, and each one requires particular types of exercises. Well, with the brain it seems that something similar happens. As much as memory is usually measured (there are tests and tests to do it), it is difficult to determine the abilities of each person. The ability of someone to solve problems, for example, is not the same as memory, ingenuity, etc..
The developers of Lumosity certainly presume to be very aware of this, and therefore they do the same as many gyms, only thinking in the mind: adapt their exercises to the qualities of each individual. Its programs are intended to know the strong and weak points of each user's brain, and thus be able to know where to make the effort, so to speak.
Exercising the brain with Lumosity, does it really work?
Some people may be skeptical when judging the results of tools like Lumosity, assuming that no matter how much you practice your games, your brain will stay the same, for better or worse. Or that even reading a good novel can be more useful in certain cases. But those responsible for the application also have a clear answer to that: the results of their scientific studies.
The authors of Lumosity claim to have followed up on users who have used their application, and that they have achieved better results after it. Even so, they are cautious, and they assure that they still have work to do when it comes to measuring the benefits of their proposal and the impact that it can have, if it has it, in the minds of users. They also admit that they must solve one of their main problems: people's lack of perseverance. All in all, the exercises are fun, or entertaining at worst, and they certainly aren't going to hurt anyone. Independent scientists, for their part, also They are extremely prudent when evaluating initiatives such as Lumosity, and tend to emphasize that it is about games in the first place, designed to entertain, and as such must be valued. Virtually no one gets wet about potential cognitive enhancements.
Peak: Brain Games
Be that as it may, and with better or worse proven results, the truth is that Lumosity-type games have a significant pull among the public, which on a pragmatic level is what it is about. Proof of this, as we mentioned at the beginning of the article, are the many similar proposals that have come to light in recent years. One of the most successful has been Peak: Brain Games. The idea is similar, and so is the execution.
These are a large number of brain teasers, which are supposed to help improve the brain, or at least exercise it. And they have goals, so that the players themselves can have fun seeing if they improve in solving the tests. It must be recognized that this is a fairly complete and varied proposal, which even aims to improve vocabulary with games similar to word search.
Elevate: Brain Games
Something very, very similar is also offered by Elevate, another application with mind games to, a priori, improve cognitive functions. That is, memory, vocabulary, mental agility and even, in this case, diction. Because in the end, it seems to be, the important thing about training these kinds of qualities is to also give a better image or be more determined when it comes to relating to others. Or that is what at least those responsible for Elevate seem to think.
If you are interested in these types of games, it also has a personalized plan that adapts to each profile.
