Brain Power: Exercising Your Mind

More often than not sitting in front of a video game console hours on end will only serve to irritate those who strive for your undivided attention. However, instead of creating the illusion that you're doing absolutely nothing productive with your time, gamers now have a legitimate excuse. "I'm keeping my brain active!"

Evidence suggests maintaining daily challenges for your brain can keep it healthy, warding off the effects of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children, and Alzheimer's disease in the elderly. The benefits don't stop with those who are suffering ailments though. Keeping your brain active enhances memory, attention span, and motor skills for everyone else.

While some researchers are still in debate over the issue, many companies decided to seize the opportunity with both hands by cashing in on the current publicity.

Products for the Brain

The recently released products said to enhance brain activity and optimize functions range anywhere from a few quarters to $400. A few of the choices, in order from cheapest to most expensive, are as follows:

- Crossword Puzzles: They're not just for entertainment from one destination to another anymore. Crossword puzzles are one of the cheapest options to keep your brain active and thinking. The price? Simply the cost of a newspaper.

- Brain Age: This new game by Touch! Generations for the Nintendo DS is based on the work of Ryuta Kawashima, a Japanese neuroscientist. It's said to stimulate the brain with math, reading, drawing, and reasoning tasks. Price: $20.

- Brain Builder 3.0: A Tools for Wellness CD-ROM that enhances working memory capacity, increases cognitive processing speed, expands thinking skills, develops attention and concentration, and improves auditory and visual chronological processing. Price: Approx. $36.00

- Subliminal Software: With the CD or the downloadable version, you can allegedly activate your natural genius state 24 hours a day, release lifelong fears and phobias, lose weight, and become healthier-all by inducing subliminal brain power! Brought to you by www.subliminal-power.com. Price: $39.95 for downloadable version; $49.95 for CD.

- Mind Stereo: A brain-enhanced media center, this software has embedded brainwave entertainment in playlists and net radios. It's suitable for use in the backdrop while you work or study, making it principle for students, or those whose jobs could profit from amplified cognitive abilities and reduced stress. Price: $44.99

- The Neuro-Programmer 2: This next generation mind tool for Windows 98/Me/NT/2000/XP claims to help create fast and long lasting self-improvement involving brain stimulation, hypnosis, NLP, and mental exercises promoting brain growth. NP2's focus is providing a neurological foundation for increased cognition as well as removing mental blockades and psychological boundaries. Price: (Home Edition: $44.95; Professional Edition: $59.99)

- Brain Fitness: This software from Scientific Brain Training offers to fortify your short-term memory, speech skills, attentiveness, and the ability to interpret, organize, and arrange concepts. It's compatible with Windows, and the price: $65.00

- MindFit: The interactive system from Vigorous Mind "learns" about customer through their performance and presents personalized cognitive training programs. MindFit is for Windows, and the price: $150.00

- The Brain Fitness Program: Including forty one-hour listening sessions that aid in improving the rapidity and precision with which you process and remember what you hear, this Windows program from Posit Science is certainly nothing cheap! Price: $400.00

As you can see, challenging your brain does not have to be expensive. If you have the financial independence to spend hundreds of dollars on a program though, at least it's for good reason. The brain is the body's computer: upgrade often, and you'll stay sharp as a tack.