Cognitive training is any process which specifically exercises the cognitive functions of the brain. Cognition is the functions of the brain that enable you to think and act.
The main cognitive functions are:
- Working memory (short term memory)
- Attention (focus and staying on task)
- Executive functions (decision-making, comprehension, etc)
There are two main types of cognitive training:
- Enhancing cognitive functions
- Delaying and/or improving the effects of brain aging, illness or injury
There has been an exciting explosion of brain training software and programs to improve cognitive ability. These programs utilise your brain’s natural plasticity and build your cognitive reserve.
Cognitive reserve is like savings in the bank or your superannuation. This money could be used in case of problems or to simply enjoy life more and for longer in your retirement years.
Cognitive reserve gives your brain greater resilience or plasticity to be able to compensate for age related decline, so you remain sharper for longer or to help you resist the effects of disease and bounce back faster and more fully from brain injury.
Normally cognitive reserve is built up from a lifetime of learning and novel experiences that stimulate and challenge your brain. This gives your brain is extra resilience, strength and flexibility.
However, now it is possible to perhaps build cognitive reserve in a way that is faster and more efficient than just life experience alone with cognitive exercises.
This means you could enhance and strengthen the reserve you have already built up or begin to create the reserve you may be lacking from life so far.
The exciting news is that training cognitive function has now become cheap fun and easy with software and programs that target the main cognitive functions.
This is a double bonus because the brain structures that are exercised in the training also control your mood and energy, so you will also feel more switched on and happier, which also gives you emotional resilience to deal with the inevitable ups and downs of life.
With the right training you have the energy ability and confidence to live a more exciting interesting fulfilling life, which adds to your cognitive reserve.
So why don’t you discover what your brain can do and train your brain in a way that feels just like games to:
- Be quicker
- Stay sharper
- Remember people’s names
- Concentrate a little better
- Learn faster
- Simply not miss things
- Express yourself better
- Feel more confident and happy