this wedsite it’s so cool ..!
there is a lot of thing i like on it..!
So , thank you very much ^^

also ,i really wants to participate , so what i should to do ..?

I just logged in with no issues. Are you still locked out?

I have been unable to access the BrainTestBritian Study since yesterday. Do you know of any problems with the website. Details are still online about the study but I cannot login to the training.

From first seeing the initial publicity about Brain Test Britain I’ve been irritated and disappointed by the use of such vast resources with such a high profile to create such a flawed trial.

I’ve been forced to conclude that the real purpose of Brain Test Britain is to debunk Nintendo’s claims about its brain training games, rather than to determine whether brain training can make a real difference. (Nintendo has had a lot of success and a good deal of backlash in Britain.)

The design of the Brain Test Britain training regime ignores previous research about what kind of training approach does in fact lead to measurable cognitive changes. As Cathy points out the training is too lightweight; it’s also too brief and too infrequent.

So, Brain Test Britain will inevitably satisfy its true objective — it will show that brain training is a waste of time. I suspect that this will please the scientists who helped design the study and should know better!

This is very unfortunate since it will doubtless dissuade many people from trying a more scientifically rigorous brain training regime.

Martin Walker
http://www.mindsparke.com

I was using the Lumosity program and thought that this study would follow along the same lines. I am finding that while doing the training exercises one or two of the questions are repeated. Would be interesting to know if this is a test of memory creeping in or just a program generating the same questions on different days. The study does seem to be concentrating on knowledge. Let’s hope that they release details of the study at the end.

But the “brain training” associated with this study does not appear to be training in things like memory, perception, and other skills. It appears to be attempted training in knowledge.

That’s interesting, and I would love to know if that continues to be the case. I hope that upon completion of the study, they release the design so we can get an accurate picture of the process.

I think the danger of this study is not that the people participating are unlikely to gain anything from it. It is that since it is a research study, the results will be used to make generalizations about whether brain training works.

Good point. It does seem to be the M.O. – deciding if this stuff works. While the current list of completed studies is small, it points to the conclusion that consistent training does benefit targeted areas of cognitive function. I’d like to see more scientific evidence that the training can actually cross domains, because I, along with many others (I’m sure you too), have reported a good deal of anecdotal evidence supporting this. We just need more studies, and we’re getting them. You are so right to point out that Brain Test Britain (no matter which way it swings) will not and should not be the “end all be all” deciding entity.

Thank you again for reporting on this, and please keep us posted!

Victoria,

Thanks for signing up and posting with your findings. I truly appreciate it, and we have many readers who are following along also. Can I ask which program you were previously using for your brain training?

But the “brain training” associated with this study does not appear to be training in things like memory, perception, and other skills. It appears to be attempted training in knowledge.

There are 6 categories, but they are all of exactly the same format. You are asked to put things in order from the greatest to the smallest. The categories are things like population, duration, distance, pop culture, etc.. There seems to be no consistency in how many you get right. You could get one thing out of order, and miss anywhere from 2-5 of the 5. You get a score based on how many of the 5 are in the correct slot. With some items you are asked to order, the meaning is obscure. For example, if you are putting things in number order, where would you put “answer to life, the universe, and everything”. It turns out that it fits between “Countries in the EU” (lower) and “Carats in the Crown Jewels’ Kohinoor Diamond” (higher).

After you put one group in order, you are shown what the correct order was, but not any actual numbers, dates, etc. The next time you encounter those items, they may be with different other items. Each day you only do one exercise in each of 3 of the 6 categories. So, for example, that adds up to one exercise in each category every other day. Going to the practice room to “hone your skills” is optional.

I think the danger of this study is not that the people participating are unlikely to gain anything from it. It is that since it is a research study, the results will be used to make generalizations about whether brain training works.