Development and research is carried out by our team in Berlin with partners from Australia to Canada.

Already in 2013, NeuroNation was awarded the Leonardo Prize by the German Federal Ministry of Health and the AOK. . NeuroNation received the prize for its contribution to the advancement of the cognitive abilities and mental health indicators of its users.

Your brain is adaptable

While brain training is a very modern topic, physical fitness is already highly regarded in our society. For a long time now, there have been fitness studios aimed at people of all ages. It is a general consensus that physical exercise leads to a healthier, longer, and more fulfilling life. However, the situation is somewhat different with mental training. How to achieve optimal training here is the subject of current research. According to current knowledge, the brain reaches its highest level of comprehension and performance at the age of 16-25. From this age, mental fitness decreases. The good news is that you can actually do something to keep yourself fit because your brain is adaptable. Scientifically speaking, this adaptability is called “neuroplasticity”.

Targeting the right areas of the brain

Games and puzzles like Sudoku or crossword puzzles offer a simple way to stay mentally fit. But science already knows far more effective methods to increase mental fitness.
Modern brain training does not only activate a certain part of the brain like a crossword puzzle but many different areas, such as memory or attention. This can not only lead to a general improvement in performance in exercises, but also in everyday life. These so-called “transfer effects” can usually only be achieved with an adaptive and thoroughly developed training plan. The exercises of NeuroNation are based on the current state of research.

Personalized training

There are a number of points that good brain training must include in order to improve your everyday performance in the long term: Above all, your brain must neither be over- nor under-challenged, since in both cases your training success will fail. Thus, all NeuroNation exercises always begin simple and develop towards a higher complexity after a series of correct results. Maximum effectiveness is only achieved if you train at your personal performance limit. That is why the training is designed to start each day at your current appropriate level.

Frequency is key

As with any form of practice, consistency and continuity are the keys to success in the brain and mental training. “A rolling stone gathers no moss” is a well-known saying. That is why NeuroNation offers a large number of playful exercises. This variety is also important from a scientific point of view: If you constantly solve the same tasks (e.g. Sudoku), you will learn to perform them quickly but will strain your brain less and less over time.

In order for the brain to restructure itself, it constantly needs new challenges. And for additional motivation, you can even train together with friends or family. Brain training is suitable for people of almost any age.

Our effectiveness

A long-term study by MSH Medical School Hamburg and the University of Würzburg has shown that NeuroNation exercises performed from home, without instruction and supervision, are effective.

The researchers recruited participants via the internet and newspaper advertisements to a training study, in which the participants were to train on various NeuroNation exercises from the comfort of their own homes. The participants were divided into two groups: the training group practiced on NeuroNation memory exercises, whereas the control group practiced verbal knowledge. Altogether over 170 participants finished the study.

After only 21 training sessions, the training group improved memory and also other cognitive functions, such as processing speed.

Even more exciting are the everyday-life results. The training group also reported significantly less cognitive failures, like forgetting appointments, forgetting names, getting easily distracted, and difficulties in making decisions.

Leading scientist Prof. Dr. Tilo Strobach commented on the results:

“Since the participants were randomly assigned to the training and control groups, and since we also made sure that the performances of both groups were equal before training, we can conclude that the performance differences after training can be attributed to the training intervention.”

Our scientific partnerships

Cooperation with Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Germany)

Chemotherapy patients often complain about cognitive impairments after their treatment. Neuropsychological studies have confirmed this problem. NeuroNation is cooperating with the Clinic for Neurology at Charité – Universitätsmedizin in Berlin to study whether chemotherapy-related cognitive impairments can be reduced with brain training exercises from NeuroNation.

Study with Goethe University Frankfurt (Germany)

What effect does training various cognitive skills have on school performance in elementary school students? And which role do motivational factors play in the success of the training? In a study with Goethe University, researchers are studying whether a four-week training program with 21 training sessions involving working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility tasks can improve children’s reading and math performance. Using playful elements such as a cover story, the effect of motivation on training and transfer success is also being studied.

Scientific study with the MSH Medical School Hamburg (Germany)

Brain training’s influence on various cognitive skills is currently being studied in collaboration with the MSH Medical School Hamburg under the direction of Professor Strobach. Further details will be released after the study is completed.

Study with Queen’s University (Canada)

Schizophrenia is a complex illness that can manifest in both positive and negative symptoms. For effective treatment, it is essential to understand which techniques and strategies will be most effective for patients. Scientists in the Centre for Neuroscience Studies and the Department of Psychology at Queen’s University in Canada are carrying out a study to determine how brain training should be implemented to create changes in EEG patterns. Patients with schizophrenia display typical EEG patterns when performing certain cognitive tasks. The study is researching whether it is more effective if training is carried out in multiple 2-minute sessions or as a single 10-minute session.

Study with University Hospital Cologne (Germany)

Parkinson’s disease is often accompanied by cognitive decline. In a study done in cooperation with the University Hospital in Cologne, patients who had not yet experienced any cognitive deficits received intense working memory training over the course of 5 weeks. The training aimed to stabilize their cognitive abilities in the long-term.

Study with Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences (Germany)

Demographic change and digitalization both mean that older professionals experience ever-greater cognitive challenges. Do older participants benefit from cognitive training in the same way that younger participants do? Are there differences in the types of tasks, or correlations to working time? In collaboration with students from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Dr. Gerrit Hirschfeld, professor of quantitative methods, is attempting to answer these questions using selected data from the NeuroNation program.

Study with the University of Prague (Czech Republic)

A study conducted in collaboration with the University of Prague is trying to find out to what extent brain training can make a positive contribution to the treatment of anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by a disturbed relationship to food consumption. In recent years, scientists’ interest has begun to focus on the neuronal roots of the illness. The study is being carried out in the Santa Corona Hospital in Pietra Ligure (Italy).

Study with Bielefeld University (Germany)

Ming-Yang (M.Sc.) is a doctoral student at Bielefeld University and is studying attention span in athletes. The scientist is particularly interested in finding out to what extent the attention spans of professional and amateur athletes differ. NeuroNation training is being used to observe these differences.

Study with the University of Applied Sciences in Bochum (Germany)

What effect does computer-based verbal fluency training have on verbal and executive function in the elderly? Bianca Spelter, a speech therapy student at the University of Applied Sciences in Bochum is investigating this question for her bachelor’s thesis using selected exercises from the NeuroNation program. Her work is being supervised by Prof. Dr. Sascha Sommer, dean of the applied health sciences department, whose work focuses on cognitive neuropsychology. Details.

Scientific study with the Hertie Institute in Tübingen (Germany)

What can people living with Parkinson’s disease achieve with brain training? This question is being researched by the working group for clinical neurodegeneration at the Hertie Institute in Tübingen under the direction of Prof. Dr. Berg. Alongside physical exercise, regular cognitive training is carried out using the NeuroNation app.

Scientific cooperation with a neurological therapy center

What type of brain training is most helpful for patients with neurological disorders or those who have suffered a stroke? Under the guidance of Doctor Wolfgang Klein, who is researching technological solutions as a part of neurorehabilitation within the scope of the EU project Rehab@Home, NeuroNation is exploring some innovative new approaches.

Rehabilitational use in cooperation with a health insurance provider

The health insurance provider Deutsche BKK makes it possible for their customers to use NeuroNation training in the course of their rehabilitation. Brain training plays an important role in rehabilitation after a stroke. Effectiveness is evaluated using tests before and after the training takes place.

Maintenance and improvement of cognitive fitness in the elderly

Studies show the importance of regular mental activity in advanced age. For this reason, the Bremer Heimstiftung, a foundation for seniors, makes use of the NeuroNation app in its nursing homes. Initial results show that brain training is extremely popular.

Scientific studies on working memory training

What effect does regular cognitive training with NeuroNation have on working memory? The division of experimental psychology and neuropsychology, under the direction of Professor Niedeggen, is attempting to answer this question. The results show that visual working memory, in particular, improved significantly.

Matriculation project on the effectiveness of brain training

In her matriculation project, high school student Ladina Meier of Bündner Kantonschule Chur compared the effectiveness of various types of brain training. She was supervised by Marcel Liechti. The results demonstrated the superiority of NeuroNation’s training.

After training, participants showed improvements in both NeuroNation exercises used in training, as well as in tests that evaluated their working memory. The study demonstrated that improvements in cognitive performance – when training with NeuroNation – are transferable. This means that NeuroNation members can expect to experience their brain training benefits in other parts of their everyday lives as well, while training their brain with us [1].

NeuroNation has developed a course based on the collaboration with the Free University Berlin called MemoWork – which you can now find on our website.

What is working memory?

Your working memory is responsible for remembering and processing information. This is why it is so important in your everyday life – not only to remember our schedule and commitments, but also to solve complex problems quickly. Difficulties with your working memory become apparent when for example you tend to forget things you intended to remember. Or when you have to read a page three times to understand the content; forget what you came to the supermarket for; or daydream when you need to concentrate. As you can see, working memory is extremely important in your everyday life, so make sure to keep it active!

A stronger working memory saves you time and heartache. It helps you at school, at work, and on a day-to-day basis.

So more about the study…

The four week study was conducted with almost 30 participants who were divided into two groups; one trained their working memory using personalized NeuroNation brain training exercises which were designed to become more difficult and intense during training. The other group (the active control group) trained with exercises designed to strengthen the memory but not to improve working memory. This active control group trained with mnemonics exercises. Mnemonics are memory techniques which help people to remember information that would otherwise be difficult to recall. A well known mnemonic is the ’30days hath September’ song, often taught in schools to help young children remember how many days there are in each month. Other techniques involve for example simple memory games based on pattern recognition.

All participants regularly met in groups and discussed what the training and the exercises were about, and received tips on how to improve their performance.

By having the active control group train with memory techniques, researchers were able to see if these exercises also improved working memory performance, and whether learning memory techniques could be an alternative to computerized working memory training. Furthermore, researchers wanted to find out whether the Mnemonics group was better at long-term memory.

Before and after the four week training, participants were assessed using standardized neuropsychological tests.

What were the results?

The study showed that the experimental working memory group, those who trained their working memory with NeuroNation, was significantly better at mastering the untrained tests that challenged working memory at the end of the four weeks than the control group who trained with memory techniques.

In essence: memory techniques won’t help you get a better working memory, but you will see improvements using NeuroNation brain training.

Yet again: NeuroNation is shown to be effective

And NeuroNation doesn’t only help your memory. Studies show that brain training has transferrable benefits to other areas of your life, such as multi-tasking and remembering large volumes of information. 

MemoWork: The training for the study

Want the same results? We used the findings from this study to develop the ‘MemoWork’ course, which you can find on the NeuroNation website. Each of the exercises making up the course was based on the study described above, to provide you with the best possible training, and transferable benefits to your work and everyday life. ‘MemoWork’ is just one of many courses which we offer, based on the latest findings in Neuroscience and Cognitive Psychology. So give it a go today – and experience the difference it makes!

The amount of sleep we get and the quality of it is a central component in keeping us fit and healthy. Everyone who has experienced a bad night’s sleep knows that the sleep-deprived mood we are in the next day isn’t exactly pleasant [1].

On top of that, the long-term effects of sleep deficiency are just as bad for our health. Chronic insomnia can for example increase the risk of Alzheimer’s later in life. In the U.S., 40 million people are diagnosed each year with a chronic sleep disorder, and an additional 20 million individuals at some point will experience significant troubles sleeping, says the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention. We have looked at what studies say about why sleep is so important for us. Here is what we found:

Our sleep’s cleaning squad

When we sleep, our inner cleaning squad goes to work and removes all toxins that have accumulated in our brain throughout the day. The toxins are being transported out of our body through the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Particularly, substances such as amyloid, tau proteins, and other molecules – which can lead to Alzheimer’s if allowed to build up in the brain – are eliminated through the route of our CSF. In order for this cleaning process to be successful and rid our body of all waste substances, we need to get a sufficient amount of good quality sleep. So far, so good. But where does our sleeping position come in?

The position we sleep in

Dr. Helene Benveniste and her colleagues of Stony Brook University School of Medicine initiated a study to explore how the position we sleep in affects our brain and the process of ridding the body of metabolic waste [2]. Mice were used to examine the glymphatic pathway – the route which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) filters through the body and is exchanged with interstitial fluid (ISF) to clear waste. During sleep, these glymphatic pathways are very active, ridding the body of toxins, such as amyloid, tau proteins, and other molecules.

These mice were put to sleep on their side, back, or stomachs using anesthesia, and their glymphatic pathways were then examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As it turns out, the mice’s metabolic waste was cleared most efficiently when they were put to sleep on their side. This shows that sleeping on our side is the best way to stimulate our brain’s nightly detoxification process.

Tips for a healthy sleep

Apart from our sleeping position, there are a few easy things that can help us have a better and more relaxing sleep:

Stay away from your smart phone in bed: A study revealed that people who use their smart phones or tablets before going to sleep have a worse quality of sleep than people who do not use their smart phones before bed. The study found that the problem is in fact the light of the tablet or smart phone that negatively affects our sleep quality [3].

• Don’t drink alcohol before bed: Contrary to what we might think, alcohol can actually damage our sleep quality as it robs our body of REM sleep and other deeper stages of our sleep cycle that are responsible for ensuring that we wake up feeling rested.
• Regular exercise: Additionally to all other heath benefits we already know of, regular exercise also helps us sleep better, feel less depressed, and have more energy. If you find it difficult to exercise right before bed, try squeezing in a morning run or a lunchtime yoga class. It doesn’t matter when you exercise as long as you do it on a regular basis.
• Practice meditation:  Regular meditation is a powerful tool for insomniacs. The ‘why’ part is still largely unknown by scientists, but we do know that meditation sends signals to the sympathetic nervous system’s “fight or flight” response, commanding it to relax.
• 4-7-8 Method: According to Dr. Weil, this breathing technique can make a person fall asleep in less than one minute. We created an infographic about this trick to fall asleep.

A healthy brain makes sleep a priority

There are many ways to keep our brain in good shape – but sleep is one that comes naturally without any effort. Get a good night’s sleep, and try to optimize the quality of your slumber, to keep your brain healthy and decrease the risk of developing neurological diseases in later years.

Scientists are still figuring out many new things about the brain and how to improve our memory. We do know that a lot of people struggle to remember things, and in many different ways. Perhaps you’re forgetting appointments or answering your emails, or picking up the dry cleaning on your way home. Let’s take a look at what’s really going on in your brain, and see what memory games can help you train your brain to be a little better at remembering faces and names.

Fun Name Memory Game

A great way to break the ice is a fun name memory game in which a group has the chance to remember the names of all participants.

For the name memory game, the first person says their name and their favourite thing. The second person has to repeat the name and the thing of player one, and adds their name and favourite thing too. This continues and adds up until a player misses someone’s name or thing.

Through this memory game, people can learn the names of all players and also discover a bit about their interests, which helps with remembering and promotes social interaction.

Why you remember what you remember

According to a study from MIT, what you remember depends on how meaningful that memory is to you and if you can connect it to other knowledge or other memories [1]. If you can make a relation between a memory and something else, there is a larger chance that you will remember it later on. Like learning, memory is all about context.
That is why pattern recognition is so important. Essentially, the more connections a new memory has to memories which already exist, the more likely you will remember that information. The same goes for making new memories.

Memory games can help you

Many people have trouble remembering faces or names. Have you ever gone to a really important meeting and couldn’t remember someone’s name there? Or introduced two friends at a party and referred to one as a ‘he’ instead of saying their name? Remembering a person’s name is flattering and people appreciate it when you do, and that is why it is so important that you make up memory games to make sure that your memory will not fail.

Try to find an unusual feature – ears, hairline, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, complexion, etc. and then create an association between that characteristic, the face, and the name in your mind. The association might link that person to someone else you know. Alternatively you could find a rhyme or image that fits with the name or the person’s appearance.

When you are first introduced to someone new, ask the other person to repeat their name or find a way to see it written. A business card, or adding the person on Facebook or LinkedIn always helps to improve the memory, especially if the technique involves using visual memory. If the name is unusual, you can be fairly sure they get asked by many people for more details on their names origin and spelling. Keep in mind that the more often you hear and see the name, the more likely it will sink in. After you say goodbye, review the name in your mind several times or write it down on a piece of paper. This will help you improve your memory, getting you ready for the next time you meet, so you will smile with relief when their name comes out of your mouth correctly.

Next steps

This memory game is both simple and beneficial.

If you actually want a real challenge for your memory, try NeuroNation’s “Path Finder”. This memory game is based on an exercise created by Professor Joni Homes of Cambridge University. The aim of this exercise is to go over your steps, record the information in the short memory and then recall back the steps taken. This exercise, together with other brain games of NeuroNation, will train your ability to recall back information from the short memory, like the names of people you just met. Remembering a new acquaintance’s name can earn you many points when it comes to business deals and establishing new friendships, so try these tips together with the Neuronation brain exercises today and see how they help you improve your memory.

Unfortunately, any kind of training can only be successful if done on a regular basis. Which is why we thought we’d give you a hand in overcoming your inner laziness and help you make brain training part of your everyday routine – while still enjoying it! Over the years we have done a great deal of research and have documented a lot of our member’s experiences they have shared with us. Here are our 7 findings:

1. Set realistic goals

Studies have shown that setting goals for yourself will help you achieve more. Your goals should be challenging but still reachable. This is because if your goals are not accomplished, you will feel frustrated and be more inclined to give up altogether. Being a premium member here at NeuroNation will give you full access to all of our courses which are specifically designed to give you the right amount of brain training every day – tailored to your personal needs. Our brain training is challenging but fun, making it enjoyable to follow through with it. All you have to do is log on and start the training, we’ll take care of the rest.

2. Develop a routine

We are creatures of habit. As such, we need to make something part of our routine in order to stick to it. Think about what time of day is the most enjoyable for you to do your brain training session. Are you usually motivated in the morning when your brain is fresh and excited for the day or does your brain enjoy a little afternoon boost to refuel itself for the rest of the day? Whatever time you prefer most, our brain exercises are always here to boost your brain and make you feel great. We at NeuroNation will make sure you’re in good hands.

3. Combine your routines

Researchers have found that the easiest way to make something part of your daily routine is to link it to an activity that is already part of your routine. That way, every time you do something that is already a habit of yours, you will automatically think of doing your new habit as well. If you like reading the paper at breakfast, try putting your smartphone or tablet right next to you so that you can move on to doing your brain training session as soon as you have finished reading the paper.

4. Be kind to yourself

Every year, we tell ourselves this year will be different – we will make much better decisions, be smarter, healthier, more active and so on – only to be frustrated by February when we realize we have broken every one of our resolutions. But don’t worry, a failed resolution is no reason to panic! After all, a New Year’s resolution cannot simply erase all our experiences, memories, and choices that made us who we are – with all our little quirks and habits. So be kind to yourself and don’t freak out next time you don’t achieve a goal you set yourself – it happens to the best of us! Setbacks are part of the deal and they are here to motivate us to try harder next time.

5. The early bird catches the worm

If you’re a night person, go ahead and skip this one. The rest of us however will be happy to know that our self control – our ability to fight impulses such as not eating the chocolate bar we crave (and opt for the apple instead) – is strongest in the morning before it gradually decreases throughout the day. Our self control works like a battery that slowly but steadily loses its power until it has to be recharged again (usually at night when we sleep). So by the time we go to sleep, we have had to fight all kinds of impulses during the day and our self control is exhausted.

6. Simplify your life

Even if brain training has become part of your daily routine, there are those days when hitting the snooze button seems much more tempting than doing your daily training. Don’t stress yourself if you’re having a lazy day.With NeuroNation you can catch up on any missed training whenever you want to, wherever you are. Missed your daily morning training? Simply make up for it on the train on your way to work – NeuroNation brain training can be done on our app or website – wherever you are!

7. It’s the little things that count

And sometimes, there are those days when even the thought of any training makes us cringe. If you ever feel like brain training is the last thing on your mind, how about doing only one exercise instead of an entire session? This way you will not break your brain training routine but won’t spend much time doing something you’re not in the mood for. After all, our brain training is supposed to be fun and enjoyable.

No pain, no gain – this is true for brain training as well. But NeuroNation works hard at making sure our brain training benefits and challenges your brain while still entertaining you. We are always looking for new ways to integrate brain training into our daily routine. If you have any techniques you follow and would like to share with us, email us at info@neuronation.com. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Understanding the psychology behind what good communication consists of can help us to develop new habits and to get our message across more effectively.

This is why we have 4 tips for you, that show how to communicate effectively.

What is Effective Communication

Effective communication means the successful exchange of thoughts, knowledge and ideas between a sender and a receiver. Communication occurs not only verbally but also non-verbally and its effectiveness can be enhanced with our 4 Tips.

1. Establish and maintain eye contact

Eye contact plays a crucial role in communication. Looking at another person is a way of getting feedback on particular points. It is also used as a synchronizing signal. 

People tend to look up at the end of their sentences, looking for feedback and giving their partner a chance to take over the conversation. There is often eye contact during attempted interruptions, laughing, and when answering short questions.

We also look up at the end of grammatical breaks. Hitchhikers, salespeople, charity-tin shakers, and others maximize eye contact to increase attention.

Eye contact is therefore a crucial part of how we communicate effectively.

A lack of eye contact, on the other hand, signals embarrassment (we look away to break the conversation), punishment of bad behavior or a lack of fluidity in our thought process.  

People look at each other 75% of the time when talking, but only 40% of the time when listening. One looks to get and keep the attention of others. The socially dominant look more when speaking than the socially awkward. 

These are just a few examples, but there is a lot of literature out there on the importance of eye contact, and its meaning [1].

2. Try to send a clear message

There is a huge difference between just saying something and saying something with intention. Say words which are meaningful and will drive the point home. 

Keep the goal in mind – whether you are in a job interview, business meeting or having a conversation with your partner. When you know where you’re going with your words, it is much more likely that your message will come across crystal clear.

3. Be receptive to what others say

Many of us go into conversations with a clear agenda of what we want. While it is good to start speaking and listening with a clear goal, remember to be flexible. 

If they don’t say exactly what you’re expecting to hear – adapt. While they’re speaking, listen actively and with full attention, and let your conversation partner know that you are actively listening. It is important to be an active listener, and to not tune out when the conversation isn’t going your way.

While trying to understand what the other is trying to say or what they feel, your communication automatically gets better – no matter if your interpretation is correct [2].

4. Wait for the other person to finish

We all know someone who likes to talk without listening; who seems to think that what they have to say is as fascinating to everyone else around them; who doesn’t seem to understand that listening is an important part of communicating and connecting with others.

The best communicators know that there is a kind of give and take between talking and listening, a sharing of who is speaker and who is listener based on mutual respect and caring about each other’s feelings. 

Some people talk about themselves because they genuinely think they’re more interesting than anyone else they know. But many people are overwhelmed by their own feelings and push them away. Either way, monologues send the wrong message to your listener, while a two-way conversation brings people closer.

Never underestimate the power of good communication. Often, people in management or with power – a politician, a doctor, or a strict mother – are excellent communicators. Listen to your speaking partner, give them signals that you are engaged, and speak with a clear message. You will see the difference.

Bonus Tip: a trained Working Memory can give you the edge

While communicating, our working memory receives information and has to process what has been said. With a trained working memory, it is easier to follow the thoughts of our conversation partner.

Therefore, a trained working memory is the key to communicating more effectively. NeuroNation offers a scientific brain training platform that can improve your working memory. You can try the app free of charge and train your brain with over 30 different exercises.

Games for your brain are a fun way of challenging yourself mentally. Regular training with brain games will keep your brain at its highest level and boost your cognitive performance to its maximum.

Many people fear becoming slower thinkers, more forgetful, and less attentive as they age. From MRI scans, we know that our brain substance, consisting of white and grey matter, may begin to shrink before the age of 30 [1]. This has direct effects on our own thinking, noticeable in logical tasks, remembering, and concentrating – unless you take action.

You can influence this decline! Biologically, the brain is capable of forming new nerve cells and synapses into old age [2]. Brain training demonstrably stimulates the growth of white and grey brain matter [3]. The more it grows, the stronger the improvement in mental performance [4].

Unfortunately, the best training doesn’t do you any good, if you don’t do it regularly. But with any training that challenges you, it is quite hard to stay consistent if you’re not having fun with it.

The same is true for brain training: we will only keep up training regularly with exercises we enjoy.

Motivating games can fuel your brain

That’s why NeuroNation has designed challenging and logic games for your brain that will keep you motivated. They’re called ‘games’ for a reason: while their goal is to improve your cognitive functions and performance, they are still playful, fun and engaging. Our brain games particularly target your working memory, which is extremely important for your daily functioning. Scientists regard working memory as the fundamental basis of all our thinking, learning and problem-solving. We need working memory in order to understand complex topics, solve problems, and store new information. Dr. Sherry Willis, Professor at the University of Texas [5], found that by training with brain games, individuals became more efficient at performing their everyday tasks of different complexity.

But our brain games also challenge your memory, logic, attention, and verbal skills through a variety of brain exercises based on scientific research.

Another advantage of brain games is that their cognitive benefits can be felt long into old age. According to a study in Neuroscience, published in Psychological Medicine [6], adults who engage in regular mental stimulation are 46% less likely to develop dementia than those who aren’t mentally active,

Dr. Karen Li, head of Concordia University’s laboratory for adult development and cognitive aging, recommends that adults try brain games they find motivating such as logic exercises, puzzle games or crosswords, as a way for an effective brain boost to enhance their cognitive performance.

NeuroNation brain games help you in daily life

Our brain games consist of five categories that all challenge different parts of your brain:

Numeracy

The category ‘Numeracy’ trains your algebraic skills. Its exercises are extremely useful for your everyday dealing with numbers. They not only improve your math skills but also strengthen your problem-solving and logical thinking abilities. For example, the exercise ‘Chain Reaction’ asks you to perform mental calculations quickly, memorize the result and quickly apply it to the next equation in the chain. The goal is to continue the chain for as long as possible.

(Please note: before playing the games, you will be required to answer a few questions in order to create the best suitable workout for you)

Language

In this category, your verbal fluency and your articulation are being trained. Because of the ever-changing requirements, this category also tests your working memory, your multitasking abilities, and your visual tracking. In the exercise ‘Password’, you are shown a series of letters, which you have to form as many words as possible out of. Here, your vocabulary and your verbal articulation are tested.

Reasoning

The ‘Reasoning’ category trains your ability to recognize patterns, meaning the relationship of one object to a group of other objects. We constantly have to recognize patterns in our everyday life in order to form logical conclusions and solve problems. This category really challenges your logical thinking, but also your  concentration and processing capacities. In the exercise ‘Solitaria’ you need to quickly recognize patterns, and identify the one object that is different to all the others.

Memory

This is the category that focuses on your working memory. You need working memory to remember information and keep several information simultaneously at your disposal. A well-trained working memory means a better attention span, and the ability to resist temptations. It also influences your IQ. The exercise ‘Memobox’ requires you to remember the amount of colored balls going in and out of several different boxes. Focus, memory, and processing capacities are key here.

Perception

‘Perception’ is designed to train your sensory acuity. This makes you process information faster, and react quickly to changing situations. Your attention and multitasking skills are particularly trained in this category. ‘Color Craze’ is a challenging exercise that gives you more control over automatic actions of yours. You have to either click on a color or a symbol, depending on what is being sought. The exercise is designed to work against your impulses, so you will train your ability to resist your impulses.

Brain games: the best way to challenge your brain

Our brain is an amazing organ. In a time of constant information overload, taking care of your brain health is more important than ever. Instead of traditional brain games like puzzles, solitaire, crossword puzzles or board games, challenge yourself with NeuroNation brain games as a playful and fun alternative that is based on Neuroscience. Let our games give your brain a boost and help you stay mentally fit and healthy.

Researchers used to believe only skills such as processing speed could be trained through brain training. The counterargument to this assumptiom comes from researchers at the University of Michigan who set out to examine the question:

Is it possible to improve our IQ?

Dr. Susanne Jaeggi and her team all agree: Our intelligence can be trained! [1] They delivered the counterevidence to previous scientific hypotheses. Their examinations were based on the challenging but effective exercise named dual n-back. This exercise helps us to train our working memory, which positively influences our fluid intelligence. The fluid intelligence is part of our general intelligence. The following of our skills are operated by our fluid intelligence:

• solve complex/abstract problems
• logical reasoning
• learning new things
• recognition of patterns
• adapting to situations

The experiment

About 70 grown-ups participated in the dual n-back study. At first, they had to complete a pre-test (IQ-test) in order to measure their fluid intelligence. This pre-test is very suitable for measuring fluid intelligence as most standardised IQ tests are designed to determine it. In order to draw comparative conclusions, there was a group that did not follow through with any training, while another group trained with this exercise for 8 to 19 days.

The results

After the training, the participants’ intelligence was once again tested. The results were surprisingly positive. Not only did the group that had been training achieve better results in the intelligence test than the group that hadn’t been training, the results also showed that those that had been training for a longer period of time accomplished better results than those that had only been training for a short amount of time. Thus, the increase of fluid intelligence depends on how long of a time span a person trains for. More training days led to a more distinctive IQ increase.

The fact that fluid intelligence can be improved has been supported by numerous follow-up studies, e.g. a large-scale brain training study at the Max-Planck-Institute for Human Development.

The n-back training concept offers great potential for the improvement of brain performance in all areas of our life – whether it is at school, at work, and in our everyday life.

The training based on the study

The NeuroNation team has developed training courses that are based on the dual n-back courses of the experiment. These training courses are great for training regularly and are designed to challenge your working memory effectively.

Games for your brain are a fun way of challenging yourself mentally. Regular training with brain games will keep your brain at its highest level and boost your cognitive performance to its maximum.

Many people fear becoming slower thinkers, more forgetful, and less attentive as they age. From MRI scans, we know that our brain substance, consisting of white and grey matter, may begin to shrink before the age of 30 [1]. This has direct effects on our own thinking, noticeable in logical tasks, remembering, and concentrating – unless you take action.

You can influence this decline! Biologically, the brain is capable of forming new nerve cells and synapses into old age [2]. Brain training demonstrably stimulates the growth of white and grey brain matter [3]. The more it grows, the stronger the improvement in mental performance [4].

Unfortunately, the best training doesn’t do you any good, if you don’t do it regularly. But with any training that challenges you, it is quite hard to stay consistent if you’re not having fun with it.

The same is true for brain training: we will only keep up training regularly with exercises we enjoy.

Motivating games can fuel your brain

That’s why NeuroNation has designed challenging and logic games for your brain that will keep you motivated. They’re called ‘games’ for a reason: while their goal is to improve your cognitive functions and performance, they are still playful, fun and engaging. Our brain games particularly target your working memory, which is extremely important for your daily functioning. Scientists regard working memory as the fundamental basis of all our thinking, learning and problem-solving.

We need working memory in order to understand complex topics, solve problems, and store new information. Dr. Sherry Willis, Professor at the University of Texas [5], found that by training with brain games, individuals became more efficient at performing their everyday tasks of different complexity.

But our brain games also challenge your memory, logic, attention, and verbal skills through a variety of brain exercises based on scientific research.

Another advantage of brain games is that their cognitive benefits can be felt long into old age. According to a study in Neuroscience, published in Psychological Medicine [6], adults who engage in regular mental stimulation are 46% less likely to develop dementia than those who aren’t mentally active,

Dr. Karen Li, head of Concordia University’s laboratory for adult development and cognitive aging, recommends that adults try brain games they find motivating such as logic exercises, puzzle games or crosswords, as a way for an effective brain boost to enhance their cognitive performance.

NeuroNation brain games help you in daily life

Our brain games consist of five categories that all challenge different parts of your brain:

Numeracy

The category ‘Numeracy’ trains your algebraic skills. Its exercises are extremely useful for your everyday dealing with numbers. They not only improve your math skills but also strengthen your problem-solving and logical thinking abilities. For example, the exercise ‘Chain Reaction’ asks you to perform mental calculations quickly, memorize the result and quickly apply it to the next equation in the chain. The goal is to continue the chain for as long as possible.

(Please note: before playing the games you will be required to answer a few questions in order to create the best suitable workout for you)

Language

In this category, your verbal fluency and your articulation are being trained. Because of the ever-changing requirements, this category also tests your working memory, your multitasking abilities, and your visual tracking. In the exercise ‘Password’, you are shown a series of letters, which you have to form as many words as possible out of. Here, your vocabulary and your verbal articulation are tested.

Reasoning

The ‘Reasoning’ category trains your ability to recognize patterns, meaning the relationship of one object to a group of other objects. We constantly have to recognize patterns in our everyday life in order to form logical conclusions and solve problems. This category really challenges your logical thinking, but also your  concentration and processing capacities. In the exercise ‘Solitaria’ you need to quickly recognize patterns, and identify the one object that is different to all the others.

Memory

This is the category that focuses on your working memory. You need working memory to remember information and keep several information simultaneously at your disposal. A well-trained working memory means a better attention span, and the ability to resist temptations. It also influences your IQ. The exercise ‘Memobox’ requires you to remember the amount of colored balls going in and out of several different boxes. Focus, memory, and processing capacities are key here.

Perception

‘Perception’ is designed to train your sensory acuity. This makes you process information faster, and react quickly to changing situations. Your attention and multitasking skills are particularly trained in this category. ‘Color Craze’ is a challenging exercise that gives you more control over automatic actions of yours. You have to either click on a color or a symbol, depending on what is being sought. The exercise is designed to work against your impulses, so you will train your ability to resist your impulses.

Brain games: the best way to challenge your brain

Our brain is an amazing organ. In a time of constant information overload, taking care of your brain health is more important than ever. Instead of traditional brain games like puzzles, solitaire, crossword puzzles or board games, challenge yourself with NeuroNation brain games as a playful and fun alternative that is based on Neuroscience. Let our games give your brain a boost and help you stay mentally fit and healthy.