Archive for the ‘Hints and Tips’ Category

N-back strategy

Monday, May 14th, 2012

Stage: 3

Session number: 3

Average n-back: 3.2

Hey there everyone! Here’s a little method that really boosted my n-back scores. From struggling with 3 and 4 seeming impossible when I tried this method out I was very surprised to find myself actually get up to 5 a few times! (And not do that terribly either!)

On n=2 memorize the first two squares and their letters, as the next two come up, commit them to memory as well. Matching them if they did obviously. After you remember the second block of two eliminate the first one. An example.

(H F) : (G F!)
(G F) : (G! R)

On n=3 it’s the same except your remember it in blocks of three as opposed to two. (HFR-QFS) The number of sequences you remember is double the N number. N for one block, and another N for the matching/next block.

Good luck everyone! I hope this works for you. If it doesn’t, just try and find out how your brain likes to do everything. Train well!

MindSparke Working Memory Training

This post was submitted by Andrew Clark.

Brain Training Report – Wayne – Stage 3, Session 19

Saturday, April 21st, 2012

Stage: 3

Session number: 19

Average n-back: 2.95

I seem stuck and am not getting beyond 3.0. I don’t know if it’s simply a limited memory issue or if I’m going about it the wrong way. I know some people lean toward intuition while others come up with effective strategies. Any strategy I try doesn’t work for me, and yet others are posting higher scores. I’ve read that it’s not really about scores but about training continuity and development. Still, it’s not fun to be stuck at 2.95-3.0. Does anybody out there have tips for a situation like mine? See also my related comment to Mateusz, Stage 3, Session 15. –Wayne

MindSparke Working Memory Training

This post was submitted by Wayne.

Brain Training Report – Mateusz – Stage 3, Session 15

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

Stage: 3

Session number: 15

Average n-back: 4.9

I jumped from 3.95 to 4.9 in one session merely by changing method.

Before that session I was trying to remember whole sequence as one and discarding one block/letter at a time. For example on n=4 and sequence A,B,C,D,E,B,G,D I would remember
1. A B C D
2. (A) B C D E
3. (B) C D E B [MATCH]
4. (C) D E B G
5. (D) E B G D [MATCH]

Now I split sequence into two subsequences. For above example I remember:
1 (A B) (C D)
2 (A B) (C D) (E)
3 (A B) (C D) (E B) [MATCH]
4 (C D) (E B) (G)
5 (C D) (E B) (G D) [MATCH]

For N=5 I split sequence into two subsequences 2 and 3 blocks/letters long, alternating between 2 and 3.

And now I feel pretty comfortable on N=5 and sometimes stay on N=6. However I feel like I’m cheating a little bit ;>. I hope new method doesn’t make my training less effective. What do you think?

Mateusz

MindSparke Working Memory Training

This post was submitted by Mateusz.

Brain Training Report – Catherine – Stage 4, Session 54

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Stage: 4

Session number: 54

Average n-back: 2

Hello, I am really impressed with the training colors/nines (at the same time). No one drop of progress with the visual part (colours) and still n=2. Why memorising colors while counting at the same time is so challenging ? The only way to memorise colors is saying the name of the colour in my brain but cannot count at the same time. Any tips? Thank you. C

MindSparke Working Memory Training

This post was submitted by Caherine Borrero.

Brain Training Report – Marty – Stage 4, Session 5

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

Stage: 4

Session number: 5

Average n-back: 2.3

This session was relatively good. I’m getting a (little) bit better at n=3, but cannot yet maintain that level of performance.

Definitely feeling a nice level of comfort with n=2. I find that if I focus my attention on the 3×3 grid as a whole, I have more success than focusing on a particular aural/visual cue and trying to remember what I just heard/saw.

Will keep working on it!

MindSparke Brain Fitness Software

This post was submitted by Marty.

Brain Fitness Index Progress

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Stage: 3

Session number: 1

Average n-back: 2.1

Hi

I just recently purchased and started Brain Fitness Pro about a week ago. I am somewhat confused about my original and current BFI progress so far. My original BFI when I first started was around 240, but after a week of doing the training exercises I have seen a slight decline now with my current BFI. Im not sure if this is normal but I have read in the HELP section that the original BFI should be somewhere in the range of 80-150.

Any help with this would be great.

Thanks,

Josh

MindSparke Brain Training Software

This post was submitted by Josh.

Brain Training Report – Miguel – Stage 2, Session 2

Tuesday, January 31st, 2012

Stage: 2

Session number: 2

Average n-back: 5.4

So i’m back on track. Was able to go up to 6n on the first exercise and to 4n in the second. I’m exercising daily, keeping my brain active with chess, go, logic and math, reading lots, sleeping well. I’ve cut down on coffee (from 4 cups a day to 2) and drinking green/black tea instead, and lots of water. I’m feeling great. Wide awake, active, and im starting to notice improvements in memory… I feel quite agile and am very motivated :-)

Thanks for the great program!

MindSparke Working Memory Training

This post was submitted by Miguel Guasch.

Brain Training Report – Robert Dawson – Stage 3, Session 34

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Stage: 3

Session number: 34

Average n-back: 3.8

Note to self: After returning to a game after a significant break, remember to reacquaint yourself with the controls.

MindSparke Brain Training Software

This post was submitted by Robert Dawson.

Brain Training Report – nale – Stage 3, Session 23

Monday, December 5th, 2011

Stage: 3

Session number: 23

Average n-back: 3.1

Had a slow start today which is why n-back dropped from 3.6 back..but also feeling like my brain had lost the feeling/instinct for the n-back 3 and also n-back 2 when I did them..my attention span lasted the first rounds of a block and then it seemed to stray and subsequently I got muddled up…interesting…interested to know what changes are going on in my brain..I am allowing it to figure out new ways of coping with n=4 as it seems I need a different strategy than for n=3 and that seems to mix me up in the mean time but..let me be patient and see what methods my brain comes up with..

MindSparke Brain Fitness Software

This post was submitted by nale.

Brain Training Report – nale – Stage 3, Session 22

Saturday, December 3rd, 2011

Stage: 3

Session number: 22

Average n-back: 3.6

I find that staying in the moment, simply being curious and allowing my brain to find new ways of operating is my best method of breaking new ground in my ability to progress. By giving up thoughts of “I have to improve my n-back” or “I have to try harder”, I am able to discover new ways of brain operation and ability which is the sweetest gift and benefit of Brain Fitness Pro. There are lots of parallels with other areas of life..in particular, learning new activities, learning and mastering new skills or new levels of existing skills.

MindSparke Working Memory Training

This post was submitted by nale.