These days many online games and apps claim to improve memory, brain processing speed, and overall problem-solving skills … and to postpone the onset of age-related memory loss.
So, do these games work?
Archive for the ‘Cognitive functioning’ Category
Do brain training games work?
September 26, 2019Does music make you smarter … longer?
September 25, 2019More from my summer reading on brains …
There seems to be scientific evidence that music can, in fact, make you smarter and keep your brain sharp longer as you age.
“Basically, findings on how music affects the brain indicate that musical training—and perhaps even habitual engagement with listening to and appreciating music—can help the brain enhance its natural neuroplasticity (i.e. build “neural networks”) and improve countless abilities and cognitive skills.” Source
More specifically…
Is your GPS dulling your brain?
September 24, 2019Last week, we posted Digital amnesia: Is Google dulling your memory?
We argued that persistent reliance on Google searching for routine information foregoes opportunities to strengthen your brain’s memory muscles … and, minimizes the amount of memory “dots” that you have stored — lowering the likelihood of your being able to mentally connect-the-dots to draw insights.
Today. let’s consider another technological advance — our indispensable GPS navigation devices — and their impact on our mental dexterity.
Digital amnesia: Is Google dulling your memory?
September 20, 2019First, some background …
The tests I used to give to my students always included some questions that can reasonably be tagged “memorization”.
Some students were repulsed by them and oft-shoutdc the cultural refrain: “Don’t memorize anything that you can look up.”
The apparent thinking: You’ve only got a limited amount of space in your brain, so don’t clog it with an overload of information … only store the stuff you can’t look-up.
What’s wrong with that argument?
Is financial stress making Americans dumber?
September 12, 2017Connecting some research “dots” suggests that may be the case.
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A recent Bankrate.com survey says that 40% of respondents or their immediate family ran into a major unexpected expense last year.
That’s a problem since most Americans (63%) don’t have enough budget-cushion or savings to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense (think, medical bill, house or car repair).
According to the poll, only 37% said they would be able to take the money directly from savings; the rest said they would try to cut expenses (24%), use their credit cards (15%) or borrow money from friends & family (15%). About 1 in 10 had no idea what they’d do.
Predictably, those with higher incomes were most likely to say they would be able to tap savings for emergencies or divert some discretionary spending.
75% of people in households making less than $50,000 a year and 2/3s of those making between $50,000 and $100,000 would have difficulty coming up with $1,000 to cover an unexpected bill.
Even for the wealthiest 20% — households making more than $100,000 a year — more than 1 in 3 say they would have some difficulty coming up with $1,000. Source
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Obviously, the threat of a large, unexpected expense is emotionally daunting to most Americans.
“It definitely adds stress to everyday life. It hangs over you.”
To make matters worse, there is some evidence that the financial stress may impair “cognitive functioning” – that is, dent a person’s IQ.
Is financial stress making Americans dumber?
January 27, 2017Connecting some research “dots” suggests that may be the case.
======
A recent Bankrate.com survey says that 40% of respondents or their immediate family ran into a major unexpected expense last year.
That’s a problem since most Americans (63%) don’t have enough budget-cushion or savings to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense (think, medical bill, house or car repair).
According to the poll, only 37% said they would be able to take the money directly from savings; the rest said they would try to cut expenses (24%), use their credit cards (15%) or borrow money from friends & family (15%). About 1 in 10 had no idea what they’d do.
Predictably, those with higher incomes were most likely to say they would be able to tap savings for emergencies or divert some discretionary spending.
75% of people in households making less than $50,000 a year and 2/3s of those making between $50,000 and $100,000 would have difficulty coming up with $1,000 to cover an unexpected bill.
Even for the wealthiest 20% — households making more than $100,000 a year — more than 1 in 3 say they would have some difficulty coming up with $1,000. Source
======
Obviously, the threat of a large, unexpected expense is emotionally daunting to most Americans.
“It definitely adds stress to everyday life. It hangs over you.”
To make matters worse, there is some evidence that the financial stress may impair “cognitive functioning” – that is, dent a person’s IQ.
Is financial stress making Americans dumber?
May 24, 2016Connecting some research “dots” suggests that may be the case.
======
A recent Bankrate.com survey says that 40% of respondents or their immediate family ran into a major unexpected expense last year.
That’s a problem since most Americans (63%) don’t have enough budget-cushion or savings to cover an unexpected $1,000 expense (think, medical bill, house or car repair).
According to the poll, only 37% said they would be able to take the money directly from savings; the rest said they would try to cut expenses (24%), use their credit cards (15%) or borrow money from friends & family (15%). About 1 in 10 had no idea what they’d do.
Predictably, those with higher incomes were most likely to say they would be able to tap savings for emergencies or divert some discretionary spending.
75% of people in households making less than $50,000 a year and 2/3s of those making between $50,000 and $100,000 would have difficulty coming up with $1,000 to cover an unexpected bill.
Even for the wealthiest 20% — households making more than $100,000 a year — more than 1 in 3 say they would have some difficulty coming up with $1,000. Source
======
Obviously, the threat of a large, unexpected expense is emotionally daunting to most Americans.
“It definitely adds stress to everyday life. It hangs over you.”
To make matters worse, there is some evidence that the financial stress may impair “cognitive functioning” – that is, dent a person’s IQ.
The Homa Files 