Archive for the ‘Training Blog’ Category

Working Memory Training Report – martin

Friday, February 5th, 2010

After a period of up and down scores I decided last week to embark on an intensive training schedule – two sessions per day for at least five days per week for perhaps 4 weeks.  For the two daily sessions I’ve been doing one regular dual n-back and one “nines” variation.

The results have been interesting!! I’ve felt rapidly sharpening focus and attention, reaching some of the highest levels I’ve experienced, and even, in the last couple of days, staying strong through two sessions. My daily combined average has risen from 7.8 last Friday to 8.875 today!

Doubling Up

Doubling Up

Working-Memory Training Report – nicoulloa – Session 5

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Session number: 5

Average n-back: 3.1

Duration (min.): 23

Having hard time with n=4. It’s a little easier if i murmur the series for myself, but with n=4 i barely have time to repeat it. Is it normal or should i try to do everything in complete silence?
cheers,
N.

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by nicoulloa.

Working-Memory Training Report – nicoulloa – Session 4

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Session number: 4

Average n-back: 2.9

Duration (min.): 35

Got n=4 a couple times. Still can’t do it.

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by nicoulloa.

Working-Memory Training Report – nicoulloa – Session 3

Monday, February 1st, 2010

Session number: 3

Average n-back: 2.85

Duration (min.): 35

Got to n=4 for the first time, but then back to 3s and 2s

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by nicoulloa.

Working-Memory Training Report – martin – Session 203

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Session number: 203

Average n-back: 8.45

Duration (min.): 45

Today’s session ended up being somewhat the reverse of yesterday’s — more focus toward the end than at the beginning. Ending up with a nice run on n=10.

Session 203

Session 203

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by martin.

Training progress for mere mortals – session 303

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

A few days ago i broke through the n = 6 barrier with a average n back score of 6.05.

The thing that still fascinates me about this is that I’m still seeing slow continuous improvement in my scores. It hasn’t been easy or rapid but steady and pretty continuous. I have felt and seen the difference that clearer thinking can make in day to day and professional life.

It’s really remarkable to reach a max average n back greater than 6… and now i can do 5’s almost without thinking… that just freaks me out.

I’ve been keeping track of my scores in a spreadsheet which enables me to look back on my progress several different ways: number of training days vs progress, number of training sessions vs progress and calendar time vs progress. I’ve completed 303 sessions along the way over the past 9 months.

The most positive and consistent correlate seems to be number of training days with n=back progress.  The graph correlating calendar days to training progress is fascinating in showing a long plateau around n=5 last summer.

Thanks to all who have posted in this blog for inspiration and motivation to keep going.

The key learning from this, for me, is that continuous if not rapid improvement in your working memory is possible whether you start out as a genius or not. Hard work can pay off just stick with it.  Benefits correlated with improvement in working memory are available to all of us.

Working-Memory Training Report – martin – Session 202

Monday, January 25th, 2010

Session number: 202

Average n-back: 8.15

Duration (min.): 50

After 30 sessions of “nines” I’ve switched back to regular dual n-back for a while. This began out of curiosity but has resolved into a challenge. I wanted to see whether training with “nines” had had any impact on my ability at regular dual n-back. I’ve discovered that I’m finding regular dual n-back quite tricky after a few months away.

I started in with a 7.95, right around where I left off. On Saturday when I trained I scored well below my recent par (7.3). And today was better at 8.15.

It seems logical that transitioning back and forth between variations of dual n-back maintains the challenge of the training and helps work different aspects of working memory…

Session 202 (dual n-back)

Session 202 (dual n-back)

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by martin.

Working-Memory Training Report – Will – Session

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Session number: ?

Average n-back: 7.95

Duration (min.): 25

Reached a new high, 7.95 which was then followed up by a 2nd highest score ever at 7.65. Previous best was at 7.55

I am mildly disappointed to fall short of 8 by such a small margin, but quite happy to continue to improve on BF pro even after many sessions. Evidence that it is possible to raise N levels after a long on and off training period which in my case is now over 1 year.

I am not sure what to attribute this gain to, except that I have started something called super brain yoga about a week back. This is an ancient Eastern technique that has now been marketed to Westerners. I would advise not spending a dime on the book though, given that the exercise is easy to do and a how to can be found online. I do not swear by this or any brain improvement technique but I do try many of them out.

Quick caveat:

Correlation is not causation.

There really are a myriad of other things that may have caused a boost in my N back other than this yoga for the brain — which used to be, and I think still is, a punishment for misbehaving school kids in India.

I would add too that I cannot say that this improvement in dual n back is at all meaningful in any context, other than a gain in N. Still, a gain in N it is.

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by Will.

Debbs gets into it!- slowly

Sunday, January 17th, 2010

Session number: 7

Average n-back: 2.3

Duration (min.): ?

Mind blowing – Already I have noticed a marked increase in my capacity to study and retain knowledge.
I only scored 19/30 on the Mensa test at the start.
I am really enjoying this stuff -

brain training report

This post was submitted by Debbie Hamilton.

Working-Memory Training Report – martin – Session 27 (nines)

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Session number: 27 (nines)

Average n-back: 7.85

Duration (min.): 40

And I squeezed in another training session later in the day… but my focus had dropped after an afternoon of work.

Brain Training With nines-027

Brain Fitness Pro working-memory training report.

This post was submitted by martin.