Internet Brain Games

There are a number of web resources for you to enhance your brain-power. One of the more interesting ones I've come across is Lumosity. This website, which debuted in 2007, features many simple and easily played games that work to improve your speed, memory, attention, flexibility, and problem solving. This site's layout and game visuals are all crisp and stylish, and the creators used Adobe Flash very well in implementing it.

Rest assured that this game really does improve your brainpower. The founder of the website was a neuroscience graduate from Stanford University, and the executives in charge are all accomplished big-brains too, with a bunch of Ph.D's in the mix. The games have been proven scientifically to enhance your grey matter. The games may definitely help some people to be more productive at work, well at least if they don't play them at work.

If you want to play all the games, you need to subscribe and pay either $9.99 per month or get the whole year for about $80. However, you are able to play some of the games for free also. I tried out a game called Word Bubbles, where you have to complete words given the first three letters. For example, you get the letters "WAN" and then you have to come up with the words you can produce, such as wanderlust, wanigan, wannest, and wanton (yes I got some help finding those).

The game "Lost in Migration" is supposed to improve your skill of avoiding distractions and playing it helps you concentrate better. It's simple and easy to play too. For memory games you have a game called "Memory Matrix" that simply shows darkened squares on a grid temporarily, and then asks you to reproduce what you saw.

There are also many other great websites where you can give your brain a workout. For numerical acumen, try Sudoku at various websites. For word lovers, there are many games to choose from, such as Wheel of Fortune and "Text Twist." There is the classic word jumble game too, Word Racer, and Literati(a game similar to Scrabble). These are sure to increase your awareness of words, although if you want to improve vocabulary you'll have to look them up.

If you're into board games, regular classic chess is available at lots of places, and so is checkers. In a way there are too many options and it can be overwhelming. But finding a handful of smart games to play every now and then is a great way to relax and also to sharpen your mind.