How I Improved My Productivity, Strengthened My Working Memory And Increased My IQ Score By 12 Points In 19 Days
For those of you who followed the daily updates of my 19 day test trial of Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro™, you’ll know exactly what this is about. To those just joining in, you may want to check out the full Mind Sparke trial.
I committed to 19 days of intense brain training in an attempt to see what Martin G. Walker’s program could do for me.
The short story:
It was hard work, but the results were well worth it.
The long story:
To recap briefly, I took an online IQ “pre test” and scored relatively the same as I did when professionally evaluated as a child. Note: My scores as a child were translated to an adult scale by a licensed clinician.
I then stopped all other brain improvement activities and for 19 days straight I spent 30-35 minutes a day doing the Brain Fitness Pro™ training sessions.
Once I completed the 19 days, I took 6 days off to consolidate the gains. (That’s a fancy way of saying, “let your brain catch up with all the work you just completed.”)
The Test:
I then took 2 online IQ tests. The first one had me hovering near Einstein’s IQ, and this is why online IQ tests are not to be used for scientific evaluation.
The next one I took was GIQTest which was recommended by Shaun and Will, two Mind Sparke users who were nice enough to share their experiences in the comments section of my Mind Sparke post.
The GIQTest, although not a professional evaluation, was considerably more difficult and thorough. Upon completion of that exam I scored 12 points higher than my official IQ score.
GIQTest states that their internal testing showed results to be within 4% of the test subjects’ professional scores, however I have to take into account that this is still a rough score, and I have also gained an advantage simply by taking multiple tests – a sort of “practice effect.”
Based on the level of my original score, I was expecting maybe a 6 or so point increase – so I am extremely happy with the result .
The improvements I didn’t expect:
Productivity:
I make daily lists and mark through them as they are completed. As I mentioned in my daily updates, I normally mark a few things off and spend the rest of the day getting distracted and doing things that have nothing to do with my list.
At around day 5 I started to notice a marked increase in my daily productivity. I was consistently marking off all my tasks as “done” and that was a big deal for me.
I was suddenly catching myself when I started to zone out or focus on something other than the task at hand. I’d stop, quickly refocus and get back on task.
Short term memory:
While Brain Fitness Pro™ is designed to increase fluid intelligence by way of its working memory training, I wasn’t sure what practical improvements I would notice.
I am currently in the process of redesigning the theme for this website and am working with 6 digit color codes. One I use is #01D8F6 which is a nice color of blue.
I normally view the color code on a color picker software tool that I use and then repeat the sequence over and over in my head until I can type it in the correct spot in my website code.
I know some of you are wondering why I don’t just copy and paste, but the tool has this glitch where it only sometimes allows me to copy the code via the ctrl-c buttons.
So, I’m left to just repeating it in my head.
Sometimes I get the code typed in without forgetting it, but most of the time I have to go back to the software tool and look at the code again – sometimes more than once. It’s frustrating.
After training, I could look at the 6 digit code, say it once to myself and hold it in my mind until I found the spot in my website code where it belonged.
For me that’s a clear and direct result of my Brain Fitness Pro™ training. And it would make sense as the training consists of holding audio and visual sequence counts in your head.
So, what if you don’t work with website code? How about remembering phone numbers, directions, names? Training your working memory allows you to take a stronger hold of information you need to remember for the short term – until you can file it away properly for the long term.
Brain Stamina:
I don’t know the correct medical term, so I’m calling it brain stamina. I’ve noticed that I can do more work while feeling less exhausted. There isn’t a way for me to properly document and quantify that benefit, but I am literally getting more accomplished in a day and not feeling as overwhelmed and run down as I used to.
The Improvement I was expecting:
IQ Score Increase:
As I mentioned above, I gained roughly 12 points.
A lot of focus has been put on this number, and I really don’t think it’s all that important considering the practical improvements that result from Brain Fitness Pro™ training. I can see, however, that it would be an important benefit if you were seeking entrance to a high IQ society.
The Good:
Results come fast. You should start seeing a difference within the first 10 days. By the end of the 19 days, you should see dramatic improvements.
Low one time fee. Less than $47.
Future upgrades are included in the purchase price.
Product is loaded directly to your computer so you do not need to be online to access it.
Excellent customer service and a money back guarantee. In fact the company goes one step further and offers an extra guarantee which states:
“If you train for 10 days and don’t notice a difference in the clarity, speed and power of your thinking, we’ll give you a full refund plus $40 toward another brain fitness product of your choice.”
The Bad:
Not so fun. Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro™ is not a brain game. Martin clearly stated this in our interview, and it’s the truth. This is an intense workout and you will feel it.
Can get stale. The interface is strictly based on the Jaeggi study, so it is not designed to be flashy, colorful or entertaining. There aren’t any options for variety.
Requires a solid commitment. My personal recommendation is that you get the 19 days of training done within a month. If you can go straight through – great.
Most users will have life conflicts that preclude this. The website says it’s okay to take a day off here and there, but it is still going to take effort and motivation to get through the initial 19 days.
Currently only works on a PC (Update 04/26/2009 MAC version is now available.) and is English only. Martin and his team of developers are working on a MAC version which should be out soon. A foreign language option is on Martin’s list of “wants” and may be an option in the future.
Who Is Mind Sparke For?
Ages 14 and over. (Update 03/30/09 The new Junior version for ages 6-12 is now available.)
Students looking to perform better in school and/or on standardized/admissions tests like the SAT, GRE, MCAT etc.
Adults looking to function more highly at work, think more clearly and perform better on tests like the Bar, CPA exam, IQ tests, Civil Service exam, etc.
Seniors looking to improve memory, focus, thought speed and clarity.
I’m adding a personal recommendation here.
Many of you have followed my entire 19 day trial, and even if you haven’t I’d like to tell you exactly what I told my mother in a phone conversation I had a few days ago.
While it’s true that you can use the program just once a week to continue and maintain improvement, you must get through the 19 day training first.
If you are looking for casual brain games to keep your mind stimulated, I honestly don’t think you’d be pleased with it.
You need to be ready to commit to some hard (but rewarding) work on the front end. Brain Fitness Pro™ is like boot camp for the brain.
You will most likely feel incredibly stupid for the first 3 or 4 days.
You will want to quit.
You will probably call the software bad names.
You may even write Martin or myself (preferably Martin) a nasty email.
But if you just hold on and get through it, you will be happy you did.
The results are measurable if you take some sort of pre and post test, but even if you don’t, you should see practical improvements like the ones I outlined above.
Please let me know if you have any questions in the comments below. Thank you for following along, and I hope you found this review helpful.
If you’re currently using the program, I’d love to hear how it’s going.
You can click here to purchase Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro™.
Posted: February 8, 2009
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ok, I’ll think about it, but I get tired of waiting for a long time because I have very little memory! lol ! It is even possible that I forget to buy the program! lol!
thank you for your response!
Bye!
Hello, Fanny.
We are working toward multiple languages. It will be a few months before we have a French language version, I would imagine.
However, once you understand the training, the program does not require much knowledge of English. You may want to just give it a try. We can always refund if you decide to wait for the translation.
Best wishes,
Martin Walker
http://www.mindsparke.com
Hello, I am French, I’d like to buy Brain Fitness Pro and I would like to know if there will be a French version soon! Thanks!
The more you use any organ in your body, the stronger it will become. I read a study that showed people who play certain types of video games and much better problem solvers. Just like reading will help you with your spelling skills because of the constant reinforcement.
C Richey´s last blog post..Las Vegas Housing Market: Foreclosures Down, Sales Up
Hey Martin,
Awesome! I love that you now have a family pack that includes both the adult and youth versions for one price. That makes it so convenient.
More good news on the product front.
I’m very pleased to be able to announce the release of BFP Junior — brain training games for children ages 6 through 12. These games train the same core functions as Brain Fitness Pro, but start out much more simply. The program has a number of features to keep the children interested. (Selectable “themes,” whacky sounds, bright colors… Just like the adult version! OK, nothing like the adult version.)
Martin
http://www.mindsparke.com
Hi Martin!
That’s great news. Keep us posted – I know there are quite a few Mac users who will be happy to finally have their own version.
Erin Matlock´s last blog post..ErinMatlock: @lucianop Welcome back! Good to see you and glad you had a relaxing time.
Hello Erin.
Just wanted to keep you and your readers posted on our progress with the Mac version. I’m happy to say that we started the Beta testing period yesterday. Scott and Nanz, two of our Beta testers, are gamely posting their scores on the Mind Sparke Training Blog.
All being well, the Mac version will go on sale within a month.
Best wishes,
Martin
Hi Erin,
My guess is the gain of 12 points from your WISC score is real but that may or may not have to do directly with 19 days of BFP training — but I’d guess more to do with life experience and your growing into your genetic potential. That said, I am quite sure you gained from the training…how much is hard to know.
My suggestion — keep going!
Like you, I’m doing training unscientifically. However there are some brain functioning metrics of interest. One is the speeded N-back exercise at mybraintrainer.com where you can compare one’s score with others. I got pretty good at it by practice and was in the top 10 monthly but experienced leveling off…about a week ago I went back to the exercise after playing BF pro for 80 trials and hit into their 3-back advanced level “All Time” top 10 list — one list I never thought I’d be able to crack. This is due mainly to playing the dual n back, in particular Martin’s version. Again, nothing scientific, but notable increase of wm that seemed to derive not from mybraintrainer but from Bfpro practice…(what I like especially about mybraintrainer is being able to compare performance to other members broken down by age, occupation, etc. The N-back over there, btw, is a visual exercise that seems to combine WM and processing speed/reaction time and so isn’t a pure WM exercise).
As for taking the WAIS, it would be good for you to sit for it at some point — 4th edition if you can…I’m sure you would do great on it. I plan to take it as well, but a expensive for me at this time.
On the topic of working memory and fluid intelligence, here is an interesting short film on grandmaster Susan Polgar, who subjected herself to neuroimaging.
She remembers chess positions from her past by using a part of the brain that most of us use to recognize faces. Worth having a look:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6378985927858479238
Hey Will!
Thanks for the comment and all of the encouragement throughout this trial. It has been greatly appreciated.
“…but to point out the problem a lot of us will face who are not taking the same test as pre/post.”
Very true. My trial was definitely from the personal perspective and is in no way scientific. My official pre test was the WISC-R, and I have also wondered what the gain would be if I sat for the WAIS now that I have completed the initial training.
It may be something I do later at some point.
…That WAIS score of 151 is quite impressive. Having proctored the Mensa exam, I do think there are “pressure” factors for some people. It can be a nerve wracking, stressful situation and I would think (again for some) that testing individually in a professional’s office may lend itself to an advantage.
There are definitely a few factors to play with here, and it’s interesting to discuss them.
Erin, great performance on the post test…such increase is very impressive.
As for the GIQtest I think the two best sub tests are (by far) the matrix reasoning and vocabulary, which would likely provide a very good estimate of chrystalized and fluid intelligence — barring deficits in processing speed or WM, would likely be close to a score you’d get on the Wechsler if you took it. So these 2 subtests provide the best measure of G or general intelligence and are, Imo, good mock sub-tests that, when taken together, provide a good estimate of the more stable aspects of IQ.
The other three subtests — arithmetic, digit span, and relationships — I don’t think are very good measures mainly because they don’t work well in an online format.
As for the apples/oranges issue; unfortunately, there is that to contend with:
it’s really hard to claim that you jumped 12 points because you’re comparing two different IQ tests. Like the testimonial that Martin mentioned of the customer who gained 20+ points — his pre-test was the Mensa test, which he didn’t pass and his post-test was WAIS 3 IQ of 151.Clearly he gained a lot to score so high on the WAIS, but exactly how much can’t be determined from two dissimilar tests…even though both, in his case, are very valid measures of IQ…so, even if you did take valid IQ tests as a pre and post, then they would need to be either the same test (spaced out over time) or a version of the same test (as in the Jaeggi study). So, my issues isn’t with the issues you cite (practice effect, which is often negligible) or that the tests are not valid, but rather that you took two very different tests as pre and post, with the assumption on my part that you took a somewhat culture fair test as a pre test….all this is to say, while I’m sure you improved on WM as well as on fluid intelligence, exactly how much Is not clear based on the two test you took. This is further confounded by the fast that GIQtest is attempting to measure 3 different factors of IQ WM/verbal/visual spatial which may or may not have been measured by the pre IQ test you took.
Again, not to take away from your accomplishment…but to point out the problem a lot of us will face who are not taking the same test as pre/post.
Thanks Martin! And thank you for being so accessible through this entire test run.
“…I would encourage you to keep training on a reduced schedule.”
Will do! I plan to do 1 to 2 sessions a week, and I’m looking forward to seeing more improvement.
“Future upgrades will introduce several other exercises, as well as the options of colors and “themes” that will provide some novelty for those that desire it.”
I know you mentioned this in our interview, and I’m crossing my fingers that Pink will be one of those colors…
Hello again, Erin.
Well done. It’s a tribute to your courage that you braved the training as well as pre and post IQ tests. A twelve point IQ gain is quite remarkable, but I am not surprised. One customer had a 20 point gain after completing two training periods.
Customers have found that steady improvements in working memory, problem-solving ability, and everyday cognitive function continue into the second and third training periods and beyond. So, I would encourage you to keep training on a reduced schedule.
Future upgrades will introduce several other exercises, as well as the options of colors and “themes” that will provide some novelty for those that desire it. (These developments will follow the release of the “Junior” version for children under 14.)
If anyone reading your review has questions for me personally I am always happy to answer them — just send me an e-mail through the About page on my site.
Best wishes,
Martin