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Get yerself fitter (brainally)

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Moog
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18 Jun 2011, 2:32 pm

http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/

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A recent study published in PNAS, an important scientific journal, shows that a particular memory task called dual n-back may actually improve working memory (short term memory) and fluid intelligence. These findings are important because fluid intelligence was previously thought to be unchangeable.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the dual n-back task also enhances focus and attention and may help improve the symptoms of ADHD/ADD.


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AngelKnight
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18 Jun 2011, 3:05 pm

Oh $DEITY. I sense 2 or 3 hours of my life swirling down the toilet bowl, starting in about 60 seconds. Thanks much Moog.



PaleBlueDotty
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18 Jun 2011, 4:19 pm

Moog wrote:
http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/

Quote:
A recent study published in PNAS, an important scientific journal, shows that a particular memory task called dual n-back may actually improve working memory (short term memory) and fluid intelligence. These findings are important because fluid intelligence was previously thought to be unchangeable.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the dual n-back task also enhances focus and attention and may help improve the symptoms of ADHD/ADD.


Sorry, got to logout now - just downloaded the game, :D .

Thanks, Moog, for the link.
If the results are not too embarrassing I might give you some feedback on my performance.
...... come to think of it, luring us away to this game is not a crafty little trick of yours to reduce the number of posts you have to mod ..., :lol: ? Just thinking ...



Moog
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18 Jun 2011, 8:13 pm

PaleBlueDotty wrote:
Moog wrote:
http://brainworkshop.sourceforge.net/

Quote:
A recent study published in PNAS, an important scientific journal, shows that a particular memory task called dual n-back may actually improve working memory (short term memory) and fluid intelligence. These findings are important because fluid intelligence was previously thought to be unchangeable.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that the dual n-back task also enhances focus and attention and may help improve the symptoms of ADHD/ADD.


Sorry, got to logout now - just downloaded the game, :D .

Thanks, Moog, for the link.
If the results are not too embarrassing I might give you some feedback on my performance.
...... come to think of it, luring us away to this game is not a crafty little trick of yours to reduce the number of posts you have to mod ..., :lol: ? Just thinking ...


:lol:

Not at all...

I didn't find the dual n-back 'game' fun at all, when I used to use it. It's hard work.


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Oberoth
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19 Jun 2011, 10:58 am

Nice game, tricky, but fun.



PaleBlueDotty
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28 Jun 2011, 1:23 pm

Moog wrote:

I didn't find the dual n-back 'game' fun at all, when I used to use it. It's hard work.


:cyclopsani: - who are you tellin' ???
I thought it'll drive me nuts, :wink: .

I searched on the on line groups dedicated to it, after I played around with all the settings and thought 'no way anybody can do this...', turns out there are some 'anybodies' out there, who can....

It came as such a relief that Jaeggi recently ( 2010 ) found out that the same benefits can be reaped from just training on level dual 1-back. It seems to make no difference to the improvement, whether you train solely 1-back or go all OTT.

link: dual 1-back 2010 findings



gwern
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29 Jun 2011, 8:59 am

PaleBlueDotty wrote:
It came as such a relief that Jaeggi recently ( 2010 ) found out that the same benefits can be reaped from just training on level dual 1-back. It seems to make no difference to the improvement, whether you train solely 1-back or go all OTT.


No, that's completely backwards. It's the number of modalities that is 'single', not how many levels back. (If Jaeggi 2010 had in fact shown you only needed one level back, that would directly contradict the original theories on why n-back might help.)

And on a general level, I will note that the research on n-back is not nearly as solid as you guys think. This is a case where reading the original research and thinking critically presents a different picture than the mass media coverage. (I would suggest my FAQ, but no external links alas.)



PaleBlueDotty
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29 Jun 2011, 11:28 am

gwern wrote:
PaleBlueDotty wrote:
It came as such a relief that Jaeggi recently ( 2010 ) found out that the same benefits can be reaped from just training on level dual 1-back. It seems to make no difference to the improvement, whether you train solely 1-back or go all OTT.


No, that's completely backwards. It's the number of modalities that is 'single', not how many levels back. (If Jaeggi 2010 had in fact shown you only needed one level back, that would directly contradict the original theories on why n-back might help.)

And on a general level, I will note that the research on n-back is not nearly as solid as you guys think. This is a case where reading the original research and thinking critically presents a different picture than the mass media coverage. (I would suggest my FAQ, but no external links alas.)


Duh, of course you are right ! !! You don't need me to tell you that I fathom.

By the way there is no need to worry about external links....

I bookmarked your website already whilst trawling the net for information on n-back on the 23rd of June 2011, 15:29:57 - you even earned the privilege of your own sub-folder in my bookmark folder, now how creepy is that?

Well, I better read your FAQs and find out whether I have been wasting precious time for the last few days.

Thank you very much for being the Marx to my Hegel.



gwern
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29 Jun 2011, 1:43 pm

Quote:
I bookmarked your website already whilst trawling the net for information on n-back on the 23rd of June 2011, 15:29:57 - you even earned the privilege of your own sub-folder in my bookmark folder, now how creepy is that?


Oh, it's not very creepy. Not nearly as creepy as the time I stumbled upon the 'gwern' tag in delicious...

Quote:
Well, I better read your FAQs and find out whether I have been wasting precious time for the last few days.

Thank you very much for being the Marx to my Hegel.


The relevant section would be the Criticism and Support sections; my overall take is that while n-back surely improves working memory, which may help certain subpopulations (autism spectrum comes to mind), it's looking increasingly unlikely to me that it does anything about IQ. At the very least, working on a difficult brain game may help strengthen your self-discipline.