Posit Science Review | Comparison Overview
The Posit Science and Mind Sparke brain training programs both employ
training protocols that can help mitigate and reverse the mental declines associated with aging (in addition Mind Sparke's Brain Fitness Pro can significantly increase mental ability for all ages 13 and up). The programs differ in four broad respects:
- Relative Training Time Required – Posit Science requires 65 to 80 hours of training over a 3 month period. Mind Sparke's integrated exercise trains several functions simultaneously and requires just 20 hours over a three month period.
- Training Targets – Mind Sparke's training program targets two brain functions that the Posit Science programs do not - multi-tasking skills and simultaneous left-brain / right-brain processing.
- Training of Natural Listening Skills – The Mind Sparke program does not train natural ('real life') listening comprehension. (This can be supplemented by mindfully engaging in everyday tasks and activities that require prolonged attention and focus.)
- Relative Cost – The Posit Science program bundle costs a total of $690. Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro costs less than $60.
Posit Science Review | Comparison of Brain Fitness Benefits
The benefits of the two training protocols are similar although they have been assessed in different ways.
Posit Science reports improvements in aural processing speed of 131%, and improvements in memory by "an average of 10 years."
The UCSF Memory and Aging Center shows that a steady decline in mental sharpness sets in around age forty. Their findings indicate that in the "delayed free recall test" the number of words recalled drops by an average of about 1 word per decade. Going from fifty- to sixty-year's old this represents a 10 percent decline in free recall. Or, conversely, Posit Science’s programs lead to a short term memory improvement of 10 percent.
Mind Sparke's training protocol increases working-memory capacity by an average of 80% with 19 days of training. Over the same period, it increases fluid intelligence (a composite brain capability involving processing speed, working-memory, multi-tasking and higher order processing) by an average of more than 40%.
Posit Science and Mind Sparke customers report similar subjective benefits from their training – improved focus and concentration, improved memory, and improved visual processing. Mind Sparke's customers (a broader customer base in terms of age range) have also reported improved mathematical ability, a boost in puzzle-solving ability and improved hand-eye coordination and musical proficiency.
Posit Science Review | Comparison of Brain Training Features
Posit Science (Classic and InSight bundle)
Listening Skills And Aural Memory Training
The Posit Science listening program "Brain Fitness Classic" uses six exercises to improve:
- Speed of auditory processing,
- Distinction of similar sounds,
- Aural memory,
- Auditory precision,
- Higher order auditory memory, and
- Everyday aural comprehension and memory.
The six exercises in the Posit Science program engage the user with novel, progressively demanding exercises; each highlight different aspects of a person's listening skills, building on one another so that the higher order exercises also exercise the lower order functions
In designing the exercises, the Posit Science team has emphasized four important aspects of listening processing: Processing speed, Sound distinction, Working-Memory, and Attention. (The two exercises focusing on higher order language processing test and strengthen prolonged attention.)
Posit Science recommends 35 to 40 hours with the Classic program over a three month period.
Visual Skills And Visual Memory Training
The Posit Science "InSight" program uses five exercises to improve: 1. Visual working-memory, 2. Divided attention, 3. Visual precision, 4. Visual processing speed, 5. Useful field of view.
The five exercises in the Posit Science visual skills program focus on different but overlapping aspects of a person's visual skills.
Posit Science recommends 30 to 40 hours with the program over a three month period.
Mind Sparke Brain Fitness Pro
Listening Skills And Aural Memory Training
Mind Sparke's "Brain Fitness Pro" uses a single, progressive exercise to improve:
- Speed of auditory processing,
- Distinction of similar sounds,
- Aural memory,
- Auditory precision, and
- Higher order auditory memory.
("Brain Fitness Pro" does not attempt to directly exercise everyday listening comprehension.)
Mind Sparke's integrated exercise uses random sequences of similar and distinct sounds delivered at precise intervals. The exercise challenges the user to keep improving. There is no upper limit to the level of difficulty, progressively strengthening processing speed, multi-tasking ability, and working-memory.
In addition to the core listening skills trained by the Posit Science program Brain Fitness Pro also trains Multi-tasking ability and left- / right-brain interaction.
Mind Sparke recommends a total of about 20 hours of training over a three month period.
Visual Skills And Visual Memory Training
Brain Fitness Pro uses the integrated exercise employed in training listening skills, simultaneously improving 1. Visual working-memory, 2. Divided attention, 3. Visual precision, 4. Visual processing speed, 5. Useful field of view.
The user sees a sequence of symbols displayed on a grid, delivered at precise intervals. The user tackles the visual sequence task concurrently with the aural task.
Mind Sparke recommends a total of about 20 hours of training over a three month period.
