With the growing number of brain training programs and cognitive training service providers in the market today, it’s important to understand the potential benefits and drawbacks of formalized, specific cognitive training.

Using analogies with physical rehabilitation and physical fitness training can help define the potential benefits of many of these brain training programs:

Cognitive Rehabilitation <> Physical Rehabilitation

Healthcare systems have developed a pretty well defined physical rehabilitation process to achieve the best possible recovery for people who have sustained broken bones, torn ligaments, and other unfortunate mishaps. The same goes for physical therapy after surgery for, say, a hip or knee replacement. Physical rehabilitation programs will typically last from a few weeks to several months.

Cognitive rehabilitation can be viewed as brain exercise therapy for cognitive deficits associated with brain injuries (severe concussion, stroke, etc), and diagnosed conditions like ADHD. Cognitive rehabilitation relies on the process of neuroplasticity, where the brain has an innate capability to rewire itself to regain skills, and workaround damaged neural connections. The techniques and time frames for cognitive rehabilitation are not nearly as well defined as they are for physical rehab, but a few months to several years can be a typical range.

Successful rehabilitation, whether cognitive or physical, requires sticking to a schedule that challenges the body and brain to heal. As an example, SuperBetter was created by a game designer who suffered a severe concussion and then struggled through recovery. SuperBetter provides a structured path to reach brain health goals through achievable, incremental steps with help from the game and allies (friends & family) that users enlist.

Another emerging cognitive rehabilitation program is BrainFx, which was developed by two Occupational Therapists looking for a better, more standardized method to fully assess neurocognitive status with their patients. Once the assessment is complete, BrainFx can provide a comprehensive cognitive treatment plan, personalized for each patient.

For diagnosed ADHD, Cogmed provides a software based ADHD remediation program that lasts an average of 8 weeks, with 4 training sessions each week (each session is about 45 minutes). Cogmed has published some peer reviewed research that shows ADHD symptom improvement is possible (for both children and adults) *if* the rigorous training schedule is followed.

General Brain Training <> General Fitness Training

Whether it’s joining a gym, signing up for yoga classes, or training for a marathon, people usually have a health goal such as shedding weight, keeping in shape, or improving flexibility and strength. Likewise with brain training, the goals tend to be along the lines of better focus and memory, improved processing speed and the ability to learn faster.

There are a growing number of general purpose brain training sites, including Lumosity, BrainHQ (by Posit Science), MindSparke Brain Fitness, and Fit Brains. All of these sites offer a variety of brain training exercises that are structured more as games, versus “boring” cognitive tests.

The science is a bit more fuzzy on the utility of general brain training for cognitively healthy individuals. It certainly won’t hurt to play with brain training programs, but current research has not yet proven that general brain training transfers to improved skills and performance at school, work, or everyday life.

Want to try your hand at some free brain exercises? Try these memory and brain speed tests.