FAQs

The world of brain training can be mystifying as it is a relatively new field with many options (some of which are quackery) and little regulation. Read our FAQs to learn more. 

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What does it take to enhance my brain?

• A time commitment: thirty minutes a day should suffice. But it requires a regular, consistent effort.
• A willingness to take responsibility for your life, and try new approaches.
• A device, program or practice (DPP) such as those recommended by us, based on our first-hand experience and journalistic research.
• And/or the help of a licensed professional or other practitioner trained in brain-enhancing practices and technologies.

Are brain enhancing devices, programs & practices (DPPs) scientifically proven?

• Some DPPs are well supported by research while others are not.
• We provide scientific references where available. The science of brain plasticity is in its infancy and properly done research is very costly. There may well be DPPs that help people achieve a better brain, but which have not been subjected to rigorous scientific verification. For example, the ancient practice of mindfulness meditation has now been scientifically proven to benefit those who do it consistently (improving immune function, mood and even growing grey matter, among other benefits); but it is a fact that the benefits have been known for thousands of years.
• Sorting the wheat from the chaff in this new field is challenging. One has to be willing to try new things, while choosing carefully and in an informed fashion. We bring you the benefit of our experience with brain-changing DPPs along with the benefit of our journalistic research to help you make the best choice for your needs.

Is brain training difficult – like working out at the gym?

• Don’t let the word ‘training’ put you off even for a moment — most brain training is very relaxing and easy to do. Games are an exception, but even with games you will benefit from having a relaxed attitude and letting your brain learn new skills without pressure from your habits of mind.

What device, program or practice (DPP) will be best for me?

• Our research and first-hand experience indicates that no device, program or practice is ideal for everyone.
• We’ve tried everything from no-tech to high-tech, from free to expensive forms of brain training, and from home-use DPPs to professional office visits. We’ve found solutions we are very happy with, but there was trial and error involved. It might take a couple of weeks to see results with some forms of brain training. It is also entirely possible that you will notice a significant difference with just one (or a few) brain training experiences.
• In rare cases, you may feel somewhat worse before you feel better, and it is also possible that painful emotional memories may  arise. If that happens, we recommend you speak to a professional psychotherapist or counselor. Your brain/mind may just need to release these emotions and the training might be relaxing your habitual patterns of repression. This release can be a very positive step on the road to a happier life.
• Remember what we said above: you have to be willing to try new approaches!

How does Better Brain Better Life evaluate DPPs?

• In the case of “Devices We Love” we have actually tried the DPPs.
• In the Love category we have looked at the research behind the DPP, spoken with the creators/inventors and interviewed practitioners who use it and subjects who have benefited from it.
• We have evaluated the products in the Recommended category, although not to the extent as with the Love category.
• The Sponsored category has advertisements.
• Please see our disclaimer, below, as we can in no way guarantee results when you follow our recommendations.
• Please also note that we may have affiliate relationships with product developers in the Love and Recommended categories. We always lead with integrity and recommend products and programs that we believe may be helpful, as they are described.

Are some DPPs that claim to enhance brain function actually bogus?

• There are indeed scammers out there looking to take advantage of sincere people who desire and sometimes really need brain training.
• Brain training can be as basic as learning a new language, taking up juggling or learning a new musical instrument. It can also be very demanding, like learning an intricate dance or sitting in Zen meditation for years in a cave. The fact is that many common activities enhance your brain function – aerobic exercise is just one example.
• But when it comes to technological devices there are indeed snake oil salespeople who may promise the moon and even look like they can deliver because they have a very professional-looking website and claim to have the backing of science. In researching an upcoming book we have been told by reputable practitioners that some brain training devices are bogus and that some companies who claim to have research refuse to make their studies public. There’s good science and bad science, and there are ridiculous claims; one of the most common is that you can have the mind of a Zen monk just by listening to a brain-entraining CD. While that CD may indeed help you, you certainly cannot, at present, accrue all the benefits of serious mind training involving years of arduous practice in this way.
• Because brain enhancement is a bit of a fad right now it’s a buyer beware situation. In most cases you cannot seriously harm yourself by trying new technologies but…..we’re only just beginning to plumb the complexities of our brain/mind/body continuum….and there are simply no guarantees. On the other hand, you can sit on the couch and watch inane television shows for the rest of your life. For us, that is not an option and so we keep trying new DPPs and learning about what is available. In our experience it is truly exciting to see how much our lives can improve with brain-enhancing DPPs.

So what can I do? Whom can I trust?

• Above all, trust your instincts and build on and trust your own experience.
• We have recommendations for you but you need to determine what you’re willing to try, for how long and at what expense. You first might want to determine what your goals are: do you want to be able to retain information better so that you can excel at school or work? Do you need to lessen anxiety or improve your depression? Are you tired of the way your ADD makes it so difficult to just enjoy life and accomplish your goals?
• It is also essential to know what your budget is. Do you have health insurance that will cover visits to a registered psychologist? If so, hopefully you can find one who has expertise in this area.  These specialists are usually called neuropsychologists.
• The Internet has made it relatively easy to research the topic of brain enhancement and if you have the time and good research skills, then go for it. Otherwise, find an expert practitioner to consult with (and hopefully more than one so you can compare notes) and be willing to explore the opportunities available to you.

How long will it take to see changes in my brain/mind?

• It might take a couple of weeks to see results with some forms of brain training. It is also entirely possible that you will notice a significant difference with just one (or a few) brain training experiences. Dave Siever, the inventor of Mind Alive devices, says that he’s seen many users experience a lifting of depression with just one session with audio-visual entrainment.
• We suggest you initially choose one DPP and do it consistently for at least two weeks to get a sense of whether it is helping and you wish to continue with it. The exception to this is mindfulness meditation: research shows this practice yields significant benefits to mind and body after six weeks of regular practice. Mindfulness meditation can easily be combined with the other recommended brain-building methods.
• Neurofeedback typically takes about 20 sessions to show improvement. From Better Brain Better Life founder Paddy Kamen’s personal experience, the dramatic improvement in every aspect of mood and emotional resilience was profoundly worth the investment of time and money (approximately $1,000) to achieve this result. However, and unfortunately, the benefits wore off after several months and at that time she could no longer afford the training. The neuropsychologist felt that Kamen could benefit from further sessions and that the results might be lasting if the course of training was longer.
• Lasting Skills: Different Types of Learning. Some of the DPPs we recommend give you lasting skills that will help you traverse every challenge in life with much greater ease than you’ve ever known (mindfulness meditation, Open Focus and HeartMath fall into the skill-building category). These are skills you take with you into any situation and when they start to become second nature you will be delighted to see how all your relationships improve and how easy it is to relax and accept others (and yourself) as they are. These modalities give you a new way of looking at your experience of life and you will find yourself applying the skills to many different situations over time and enjoying the results.
• Other programs like brain entrainment (from Mind Alive) and neurofeedback devices enhance your brain by moving it toward more helpful brainwave patterns – without your active participation. All you have to do is put on the system and relax. The benefits show up in your life as an overall effect, rather like taking off dark sunglasses and enjoying the play of natural light on the autumn leaves.
• Both skill-teaching DPPs and passive brain training get you to a better place. The former is like teaching you to walk after an accident: a therapist gets you up and helps you move your legs. The latter is like the therapist applying electronic muscle stimulation to your legs: they twitch and jump and get better through this passive stimulation. Both approaches may be better than just one.

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