Many of you (who have good memories, read this blog, and are dying to know what I'm doing in my spare time since I don't watch television) may recall that I started the SharpBrains brain workout in late June.
SharpBrains, is a company focused on producing neuroscience-based products and programs. They make a program called MindFit that: "focuses on life abilities such as: working memory, visual and auditory short term memory, planning, location memory, naming, time estimation, divided attention, and hand-eye coordination."
So for the last four weeks or so (five? three? See, this already isn't boding too well) I've been spending 20 minutes three times a week at my home computer partaking in poorly illustrated games while the family is sequestered elsewhere.
The tasks I've been completing?
- Following, with my mouse, a football down a path until the football and the path disappear and making sure I'm keeping my mouse moving at the same speed/direction
- Listening to either a) two sounds or b) two visual signals and trying to determine which is longer (within milliseconds)
- Trying to remember sequences of numbers forwards and backwards
- Playing a version of Mastermind
- Building a simple puzzle while the mouse keeps changing its setting each time (i.e., up is down, left is right, etc.)
I've been sending the results back to the SharpBrains office, but have yet to get feedback. Which is probably good, since there's a 30-day rebate on the program.
I'd love to update you whether or not my mind is any healthier, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to tell you absolutely nothing. I have no idea. I haven't woken up to miraculously discover my brain is working better than ever or that I remember where I put the paperwork to my upcoming trip to Boston (don't worry, it's an eTicket).
All I'm letting you know is that you don't need to rush out an buy this program at this point.
You could have, for instance, a coworker move your mouse the opposite direction when you try to type a letter. Or try to memorize all the phone numbers of your coworkers backwards.
I'll get back to you next month on whether this is worth buying or not.
If I remember.
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