Improved reading comprehension?
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XFMQ902SF
Mar 26, 2012, 12:29:57 AM3/26/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
After doing about 50 rounds of n-back, I feel just the slightest
increase in the speed in which I can read and comprehend paragraphs in
books. I haven't spent a whole lot of time n-backing because of
school, fatigue and skepticism regarding its usefulness, but after I
put in about 45 min(which i do about once a week) n-backing, I've
noticed a boost in my overall reading ability. Just a tad better at
reading-not so sure about my ability to write or do math probs has
improved though. Has anyone else noticed their ability to read improve
after intense n-back?
increase in the speed in which I can read and comprehend paragraphs in
books. I haven't spent a whole lot of time n-backing because of
school, fatigue and skepticism regarding its usefulness, but after I
put in about 45 min(which i do about once a week) n-backing, I've
noticed a boost in my overall reading ability. Just a tad better at
reading-not so sure about my ability to write or do math probs has
improved though. Has anyone else noticed their ability to read improve
after intense n-back?
Jonathan Toomim
Mar 26, 2012, 1:24:29 AM3/26/12
to brain-t...@googlegroups.com
This is one of the more commonly reported effects of dual n-back
training. If you search the forums closely, you'll probably find quite a
few other reports of that nature. Punter, for one, posted something to
that effect. Can't remember anyone else.
training. If you search the forums closely, you'll probably find quite a
few other reports of that nature. Punter, for one, posted something to
that effect. Can't remember anyone else.
punter
Mar 26, 2012, 4:23:45 PM3/26/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Yes, this is really the only benefit from the training that I have
noticed over the months. Although my attitude towards mental
challenges is very different now. I like to be mentally challenged and
I am more ambitious with whatever it is I do (sometimes bordering on
the delusional). Have also noticed a deluge of thoughts coming to my
head first thing in the morning
One other thing I wanted to post in this forum is about my body's
reaction to music now. I am not sure what the clinical/scientific way
to describe this is, but I get (very) intense "chills"/goosebumps kind
of a feeling listening to my favorite music (this was non-existent/
much subdued during my pre-nbacking days). I did a quick layman
research on the internet and it appears that this may be either due
release of dopamine/endorphins. I will try to follow this response
more closely and find out exactly what the heck it is. Did anyone else
notice this?
Apart from this, there hasn't really been much improvement in
cognitive functions like reasoning, mental arithmetic (although I have
started this as a separate mental exercise, loving it) or quick
reaction to situations. I am currently frequenting D8B (and a fair
deal of D9B- just hit D11B a few days back with some heavy guesswork).
noticed over the months. Although my attitude towards mental
challenges is very different now. I like to be mentally challenged and
I am more ambitious with whatever it is I do (sometimes bordering on
the delusional). Have also noticed a deluge of thoughts coming to my
head first thing in the morning
One other thing I wanted to post in this forum is about my body's
reaction to music now. I am not sure what the clinical/scientific way
to describe this is, but I get (very) intense "chills"/goosebumps kind
of a feeling listening to my favorite music (this was non-existent/
much subdued during my pre-nbacking days). I did a quick layman
research on the internet and it appears that this may be either due
release of dopamine/endorphins. I will try to follow this response
more closely and find out exactly what the heck it is. Did anyone else
notice this?
Apart from this, there hasn't really been much improvement in
cognitive functions like reasoning, mental arithmetic (although I have
started this as a separate mental exercise, loving it) or quick
reaction to situations. I am currently frequenting D8B (and a fair
deal of D9B- just hit D11B a few days back with some heavy guesswork).
XFMQ902SF
Mar 26, 2012, 6:49:53 PM3/26/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Working memory training improves reading processes in typically
developing children
"The goal of this study was to investigate whether a brief cognitive
training intervention results in a specific performance increase in
the trained task, and whether there are transfer effects to other
nontrained measures. A computerized, adaptive working memory
intervention was conducted with 9- to 11-year-old typically developing
children. The children considerably improved their performance in the
trained working memory task. Additionally, compared to a matched
control group, the experimental group significantly enhanced their
reading performance after training, providing further evidence for
shared processes between working memory and reading."
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09297049.2011.575772
^^^This study suggests that working memory training can improve
reading skill. I've seen other studies concluding something similar as
well.
developing children
"The goal of this study was to investigate whether a brief cognitive
training intervention results in a specific performance increase in
the trained task, and whether there are transfer effects to other
nontrained measures. A computerized, adaptive working memory
intervention was conducted with 9- to 11-year-old typically developing
children. The children considerably improved their performance in the
trained working memory task. Additionally, compared to a matched
control group, the experimental group significantly enhanced their
reading performance after training, providing further evidence for
shared processes between working memory and reading."
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09297049.2011.575772
^^^This study suggests that working memory training can improve
reading skill. I've seen other studies concluding something similar as
well.
punter
Mar 26, 2012, 10:31:23 PM3/26/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Thanks, but anything on the other symptoms I mentioned in my previous
post in this thread?
post in this thread?
J.
Mar 26, 2012, 11:27:48 PM3/26/12
to brain-t...@googlegroups.com
@Punter:
I believe I remember a study saying that the experience of chills that you describe is highly correlated with the personality dimension openness to experience (I get them very frequently as well). I also believe that a study mentioned cognitive training increasing older participants openness to experience (thus more likely to have chill?).
I also took this off of the wikipedia page for openness to experience, "Higher levels of openness have been linked to activity in the ascending dopaminergic system and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Openness is the only personality trait that correlates with neuropsychological tests of dorsolateral prefrontal cortical function, supporting theoretical links among openness, cognitive functioning, and IQ.[21]"
I believe DNB and working memory training activate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, so it looks pretty likely that your experience isn't placebo and makes sense with the research. I don't have access to that paper on conscientiousness and neuroticism with regards to working memory training. Did they test personality before and after or just at one time point?
Brain Train
Mar 27, 2012, 12:35:39 AM3/27/12
to brain-t...@googlegroups.com
regarding the thrills and chills you have experienced, i expected just a reverse trend.
IMO:
with DNB these things should reduce.. because PFC activation makes you more focussed..
for feeling thrilled you need to be fully in that moment.. 'living in the moment' is sign of low pfc function and not the elevated pfc function!
dnb is expected to activate pfc and make it more active.
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Colin Dickerman
Mar 27, 2012, 12:38:57 AM3/27/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
There are a few good techniques that boost reading comprehension a
lot...which saves you a lot of study time. The best one is just
recalling to yourself what you just read. So read a paragraph and then
describe what you just read in your own words. This helps digesting
tough material especially.
lot...which saves you a lot of study time. The best one is just
recalling to yourself what you just read. So read a paragraph and then
describe what you just read in your own words. This helps digesting
tough material especially.
whoisbambam
Mar 27, 2012, 1:30:43 AM3/27/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Colin,
yes, insightful of u.
practicing recall builds memory traces.
formulating a question or two about the paragraph is even more helpful
(two notebooks, one for questions, one for answers)
On Mar 26, 11:38 pm, Colin Dickerman <collin.silvern...@gmail.com>
wrote:
yes, insightful of u.
practicing recall builds memory traces.
formulating a question or two about the paragraph is even more helpful
(two notebooks, one for questions, one for answers)
On Mar 26, 11:38 pm, Colin Dickerman <collin.silvern...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Colin Dickerman
Mar 27, 2012, 1:48:21 PM3/27/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Yeah, there are a lot of cool tricks that nobody in school ever
teaches you
teaches you
akrasiac
Mar 27, 2012, 8:51:43 PM3/27/12
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
As far as reading comprehension and recall go, has anyone tried
freenoting? It's basically stream of consciousness writing but focused
to the text you are reading or lecture you are listening too. Win
Wenger of Image Streaming fame co-opted it and put it in his mental
bag of tricks here : http://www.winwenger.com/freenote.htm
freenoting? It's basically stream of consciousness writing but focused
to the text you are reading or lecture you are listening too. Win
Wenger of Image Streaming fame co-opted it and put it in his mental
bag of tricks here : http://www.winwenger.com/freenote.htm
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