I have received a number of emails asking me to explain the difference between Mind Sparke and Lumosity – two popular brain training programs.
They each base their training on scientifically designed systems. Both are featured at brain gyms throughout the country and they are two of the more affordable options on the market. So how do you choose which one is right for you?
Mind Sparke focuses heavily on dual n back training which is a protocol that was developed during the now famous Jaeggi study.
You’re presented with a screen where you see a block appear and at the same time you hear a letter called out. After the block disappears, you must remember where it appeared, as well as which letter you heard.
The program increases in difficulty as you are asked to recall the block placement and spoken letter of two spaces back, three spaces back and so on. Confusing? No worries. Everyone gets confused when they first begin dual n back training. After the first few sessions, it begins to make sense – and the quick results are worth it.
MindSparke is accessed online so you can train from any computer. You can also have a CD-ROM shipped out to you with the SE version.
The program consists of 30 minute sessions performed for 19 straight days, and then you can reduce your training to as little as 1 to 3 times a week. By the end of the first week, you should notice a dramatic increase in focus and a marked improvement in your short term or working memory.
Those 19 days take commitment, and this is why I recommend the program to those in need of concentrated training or those who have the self discipline to exercise their brain even if the exercise isn’t necessarily fun.
Added Bonus: Because Mind Sparke is part of a smaller company, you have more interaction with creator and CEO, Martin Walker. There is also an active and popular blog where users can post their personal training results and get feedback and support.
Who Is Mind Sparke For?
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.
What is the cost?
Brain Fitness Pro $19.95 per month or $159.50 per year.
(Web Based Training)
Brain Fitness Pro Jr All Siblings $63.95 one time fee
(Jr is PC only. Mac version not available yet.)
You can learn more about the Mind Sparke program here.
If you are looking for a more casual form of brain exercise, I would recommend Lumosity. Now, by “casual” I don’t mean less effective.
The brain training is centered around a wide variety of scientifically designed brain games. The company focuses on providing a fun environment so that users are encouraged to continue their training.
Because the program is online, you can log in to your account anywhere you have an internet connection.
After you sign up, you can start Basic Training – a 40 day workout of games that the company designed to, “improve memory, attention, processing speed, and cognitive flexibility.”
You can also choose to skip Basic Training and go straight to the core modules which are each designed to target specific areas such as processing speed, focus, math ability, high school standardized testing and ADHD.
Lumosity gives you more control over your training. If you want to log in every day, there is plenty for you to do. If you can only train a few times a week, that’s fine too.
The company also offers an Assessment section where you can periodically test your improvement within individual cognitive domains. So, say you’ve been training in the core module for attention speed. Click on the attention speed assessment, take it and you can actually measure your improvement.
Added Bonus: This past Spring, Lumosity implemented a nice community feature where you can add other users as friends and keep tabs on how their brain training is progressing. If you’re not into the social scene, you can easily set your profile to private and keep your training to yourself.
Who Is Lumosity For?
All ages, although the company states it is too difficult for young children.
Anyone looking to improve cognitive function in a relaxed and varied game format.
Those seeking tailored brain training modules in order to focus on particular problem areas.
What is the cost?
Monthly Subscription: $9.95
Yearly Subscription: $79.95
You can check out the games by creating a FREE ACCOUNT.
If you’re a Mind Sparke or Lumosity user, leave a comment below and let us know which program you use and what ultimately made you choose it.
Brain Training 101 chooses products to review based on quality. Some of these products are part of affiliate programs which earn the site a commission. Lumosity and Mind Sparke are two of these products. Our philosophy has always been to provide in depth, honest reviews of high quality products regardless of their participation in affiliate programs.
About the author, Erin Matlock
Facebook
Twitter
StumbleUpon
Digg
Email This
31 Comments On This Post
Hi there, As an adult with recently diagnosed ADHD I’m looking to improve working memory and happy I found this website just now. I’ve read that Mind sparke incorporates meditation to increase the program’s effectiveness. Is this true and what did you think about that as a user? Thanks!
@Christine. Join the club! I’m also an ADHD adult (age 73, going on 23), diagnosed about 12 years ago. It was comforting to learn the underlying reason for my impulsivity, distractibility, disorganisation, and – to a lesser extent – hyperactivity, ever since I was a child.
Although the prospect of improved attention, flexibility, problem solving and speed (see ‘Your brain, just brighter’, above), greatly appeals to me, re memory, friends and family often comment on my supposed feats of memory. Although I remember much of no importance, that I might as well have forgotten, I also forget things (especially those that bore me), that I really should remember.
I haven’t (yet) started either Luminosity or Mind Sparke. This because I find it hard to prioritise the multiple projects I’m planning or already involved in. Anyway, I’ll be back as soon as my new website is complete, and ready to receive and display comments, suggestions and questions from visitors, old and new.
Hi,
I’m a 1st year film-making student and I’d like to exercise my creativity, willpower, fast problem solving and of course memory and speed of thought. My question is which of these two sites, Luminosity and MindSparke, would help me better? not necessarily faster. I’d also like to add that I don’t have problems with my concentration and focus on things.
I just recently started to play with Lumosity, feels like fun actually.
Thanks for comparing it MindSparke, will take a look at it as well.
Hi Erin,
We have serious problem trying to improve learning skills in college students. I live and work in Ecuador.
Back in August 2009, you mentioned you were about to compare someother programs that would become available. Have you? We would love to read about your conclussions!
Hello Elizabeth,
Wow, you’ve been keeping up with us. :-) Thank you so much for your support. So far we have reviewed Lumosity, Mind Sparke, Brain Builder, Dakim BrainFitness and Posit Science. I definitely have a few others on my list, but we have been concentrating on building the Brain Pages community over the last year. I’ve had many requests to review brain training software that is specifically designed for school aged children, so we’ll be bumping those up to the front of the list. Do you have a specific program in mind?
Erin
Hi
Is your mindsparkle suitable for a normal kid age 4?
Hi Iris,
Thanks for stopping by! Mind Sparke is produced by a company called Mind Evolve – we are affiliated with them and do promote them here on the blog. The Jr. version of the program is designed for children between the ages of 6-11, so 4 is a bit too young.
Erin
I am interested in a program for high school students. So glad I found your site. I have been emailing Lumosity with questions, received no responses, and then found the answers here! Thank you!
Cogmed is $900 for 5 students, intensive but expensive!…
Have you checked out Cambridge Brain Sciences? What do you think of them?
Thank you again!
I am using the Brain Fitness Pro iPhone app. I want to ask what is the difference between the Website subscription $19.95 /mo and the app on iphone for 4$. What are the features of subscription do i get this same kind of app i am using on the iPhone or something different?
Searching the web, I chanced upon an ad for Luminosity. I then read a review comparing it To Mindsparke. I then googles ‘luminosity v mindsparke, and arrived at this site.
As a 72 year old (with energy of a 12 year old), and diagnosed with adult ADHD, having read your interesting review, I feel more inclined to go with Luminosity.
Hi Gordon,
I’m glad you found us. Just reading what you wrote, I would recommend Lumosity for you too. The options they provide will give you a better chance of sticking with the training due to the constant variety. Good luck with your training and let me know how it goes.
Erin
Hi Erin,
Thank you for your reply. I’ll follow your advice when I get back on schedule.
BTW, On my first attempt to leave a comment, it suddenly vanished before I’d finished, so I hurriedly re-wrote it. Apologies for the typos. Gordon
To Erin,
What are methods I can do to permanently boost my IQ without spending money or using drugs? Also, is there truth to the Mozart effect in anyone’s opinion and if so are the IQ gains permanent? Finally, do you use the methods you are preaching on your website and if have you noticed any improvements?
Erin,
Did you ever complete your CogMed training and write up a review of that experience and your results ?
Regards,
TC, Mind seeker
Hi TC,
I have not worked with CogMed at this time. My focus over the last several months was purely Brain Pages. Do you have any experience working with the program?
Erin :-)
I went to the Mind Sparke website and the cost of Brain Fitness pro was $20/month or $160/year. I didn’t see an option to purchase and download the software for a one-time payment of $46.95 (single-user). Am I missing something or did they discontinue the stand-alone software in favor of the month-to-month web-based product?
I was just recently introduced to luminosity during my speech therapy. I am a recent survivor of a severe stroke from this past year. Asphasia was a central issue for successful recovery. I recently stumbled on your site while looking for free mind games. I am glad there there are lots of places to build a “less than perfect, yet not totally damaged” mind.
Welcome Cindy! I’m so glad you found us. We have many community members who are stroke survivors, and I’ll think you’ll feel at home here.
Erin :-)
From playing with lumosity and trying to grind through Mind Sparke I definitly prefer Mind Sparke. Ive recognized mental growth from Mind Sparke and not much change from lumosity games. Im also a fan of the one time payment.
Thanks for the comment, Josh. They both seem to attract specific personalities, and that one time payment is a nice deal!
I use lumosity in my free time at work and I like it, its fun and it gets you thinking and ive felt that even when im finished work and im back home im still thinking alot clearer than usual :)
is this where i sign up for the free brain training power pack? i don’t see a place to do that. thanks.
Hi Wendy,
You can sign up for the Brain Power Pack by clicking here.
:-)
How do the benefits of Mind Sparke, Lumosity, etc compare with eg the somewhat addictive `Spider Solitaire that comes with my computer software, I wonder?
Both MindSparke and Lumosity use scientifically designed training where as Spider Solitaire and other popular computer games focus on providing (addictive!) fun. The more you play Solitaire, just like the more you do the daily crossword puzzle, the easier it gets. Your brain needs a challenging variety of stimulation, so make sure you are adding levels of difficulty into your game playing. Try changing the hand you use to control the mouse, set increasingly difficult time limits, add a social element to the game by competing against a friend – those are a few ideas to switch things up a bit.
Hi Kathy,
Thank you so much for your comment. I haven’t written about ADHD tools before, so I made a new post here:
http://www.braintraining101.com/which-adhd-software-will-work-for-you/
Hopefully, with the help of other Brain Training 101 readers, we can really dig into the current offerings and decide which ones are worth the investment.
Erin :-)
Hi,
I’m wondering if you could comment, from your experience and what you’ve heard from others, re: what software/training programs one might reasonably expect to benefit an 11-year-old girl with ADHD? (specific weaknesses seem to be in planning, organization, focus – not working memory).
I’m trying to sort out MindSparke, Brainware Safai, Sharper Brains, PACE, etc. (I appreciate your disclosing any financial ties you have to any of the products, like your mention of affiliates in this post.)
Do you know of any published articles evaluating these types of cognitive training programs?
Thanks very much.
Roy,
Thanks so much! Yes, I absolutely have plans to compare other products. In fact I have quite a few in line to be reviewed and posted here on the site.
My reviews take longer than other blogs because I personally test everything for an extended period in order to truly see how and if they work.
I have heard of CogniFit Personal Coach. In fact I have a review scheduled and hopefully will have it out within the next several weeks.
I haven’t tested it yet, but they do have a free demo on their website that you can check out before making a purchase.
Thank you for an interesting comparison.
I feel that there aren’t enough articles such as this one that can help people choose the right brain training program.
Do you have plans to compare other products that are available on the market today?
I recently heard about a product called “CogniFit Personal Coach”. Do you know anything about it?
Thanks,
Roy
The more you ‘exercise’ your mind, the better you will become and certain tasks. There was a study released about a year ago that tracked young people who played a lot of video games. The study found that universally they were better problem solvers and worked better together in groups than people who didn’t game.
.-= C Richey in Las Vegas´s last blog ..Las Vegas Property Auctions – Deal or No Deal? =-.