Does Training Your Brain Help You in the Real World?

Session 104

Today’s passage is all about brain training. Maybe it will help you with your MCAT CARS prep! Don’t forget to read the text first and then come back and listen.

As always, I’m joined by Jack Westin from JackWestin.com. Check out all their amazing free resources including a free trial session of Jack’s full course to see how it’s like learning from Jack Westin himself. Jack Westin has also just released the MCAT science passage of the day, where you will get a free MCAT science passage that mimics the exact style, feel, and logic of the real exam – every single day.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

Link to the article:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/does-brain-training-actually-work/

If there were an app on your phone that could improve your memory, would you try it? Who wouldn’t want a better memory? After all, our recollections are fragile and can be impaired by diseases, injuries, mental health conditions and, most acutely for all of us, aging.

A multibillion-dollar industry for brain training already capitalizes on this perceived need by providing an abundance of apps for phones and tablets that provide mental challenges that are easily accessible and relatively inexpensive.

The three of us, and many others, have provided evidence that carefully formulated exercises can improve basic cognitive skills and even lead to better scores on standard IQ tests. At the same time, brain training has become a profoundly controversial endeavor. Some researchers, including one of us, have expressed deep reservations about both its reliability and its validity. There was even a consensus statement issued calling brain training into question, which, in turn, resulted in a counter-response from researchers who defended it.

In the case of memory training, for instance, study results have been inconsistent, and even meta-analytic approaches that combine data across studies come to differing conclusions. Undoubtedly, there is an enormous amount of hyperbole surrounding the field with many companies exaggerating the potential benefits of using their apps.

The main controversies center around the extent to which the practice of these skills results in actual benefits that are consequential for your daily life. Does recalling an increasing number of digits help you remember to take your medication, do better on a school exam, remember the name of the person whom you met yesterday or even make better life choices?

[08:41] Paragraph 1, Sentence 1

If there were an app on your phone that could improve your memory, would you try it?

Jack says:

The theme of this article is really finding gray matter. It’s not all black and white as it may seem and you may have to find some gray area. So let’s go ahead and keep reading. It seems easy. The first sentence talks about improving your memories and it’s definitely something we all want to do.

[09:24] Paragraph 1, Sentence 2

Who wouldn’t want a better memory?

Jack says:

Another question that’s pretty straightforward.

[09:29] Paragraph 1, Sentence 3

After all, our recollections are fragile and can be impaired by diseases, injuries, mental health conditions and, most acutely for all of us, aging.

Jack says:

The author here is setting up a couple of questions as to whether you want to improve your memory and who wouldn’t want better memory. Then it’s basically stating that our memory being impaired is something we all face.

Usually, questions are something we have to look out for because they may pose a new argument and new idea. In this case, it’s a more general question about making sure we know memory is important.

[10:25] Paragraph 2, Sentence 1

Jack says:

The author here is saying that there is already this whole industry that tries to capitalize on this fear of losing your memory. They’re explaining a fact on what exists and we’ve all seen these apps.

[11:25] Paragraph 3, Sentence 1

The three of us, and many others, have provided evidence that carefully formulated exercises can improve basic cognitive skills and even lead to better scores on standard IQ tests.

Jack says:

The author is acknowledging that they are part of the study, or they’re the researchers involved. And it’s saying it could lead to better scores on standard IQ tests, which is similar to the MCAT although not exactly the same thing.

[12:41] Paragraph 3, Sentence 2

At the same time, brain training has become a profoundly controversial endeavor.

Jack says:

It’s so weird. It says “the three of us” and you’re putting your name on it. You’re saying you believe it will lead to better scores. And now, you go on and say, actually, nevermind because it has some issues. That’s weird. And that confuses so many students. But that’s the whole point of this. Maybe the answer is not as black and white, as you may think. Maybe there is some gray area, and you just have to accept this.

A lot of times, students like to treat these articles like math problems. The answer is 20. The answer is 40. In this case, it could be 2 or 20 or 40. It is not just one answer. So that’s something everyone should get used to. Be more flexible and notice the gray area.

[14:17] Paragraph 3, Sentence 3

Some researchers, including one of us, have expressed deep reservations about both its reliability and its validity.

Jack says:

Not only are they potentially bringing up that there’s some controversy, but they’re also bringing up that one of the three also has some reservations, which is very interesting.

[14:41] Paragraph 3, Sentence 4

There was even a consensus statement issued calling brain training into question, which, in turn, resulted in a counter-response from researchers who defended it.

Jack says:

The author is just reiterating the battle of people who believe in it and don’t. And this ambivalence doesn’t really sit comfortably with students because the author has brought themselves up in both positions.

[15:13] Paragraph 4, Sentence 1

In the case of memory training, for instance, study results have been inconsistent, and even meta-analytic approaches that combine data across studies come to differing conclusions.

Jack says:

The author is diving into some of the data that it’s not as straightforward as they would maybe help.

[15:42] Paragraph 4, Sentence 2

Undoubtedly, there is an enormous amount of hyperbole surrounding the field with many companies exaggerating the potential benefits of using their apps.

Jack says:

The author here is admitting that there are companies exaggerating these benefits. You don’t have to conclude or assume anything, but visualizing this will help you better understand it. Now, probably because they’re selling something.

“We don't have to go too far. We don't have to make connections that aren't there. But it doesn't hurt to think about why the author is saying this stuff.”Click To Tweet

[16:23] Paragraph 5, Sentence 1

The main controversies center around the extent to which the practice of these skills results in actual benefits that are consequential for your daily life.

Jack says:

The author here is narrowing in on these arguments. Do these really help in your daily life? Or is this just some fun thing to keep your mind busy?

[16:56] Paragraph 5, Sentence 2

Does recalling an increasing number of digits help you remember to take your medication, do better on a school exam, remember the name of the person whom you met yesterday or even make better life choices?

Jack says:

The author is questioning how applicable it is. So you can have both. It could help your memory, but maybe not when it’s applicable to normal day-to-day routines. And that can both exist at the same time. The author isn’t really sure how these brain apps really make a difference in our lives. And that’s where the issue arises.

These are interesting things, and it’s okay if we don’t know the answer. It’s okay if the author ends with a question mark.