Whats the greatest benefit you've noticed?
47 views
Skip to first unread message
jack nguyen
Jan 27, 2009, 8:27:44 AM1/27/09
to brain-t...@googlegroups.com
Sorry if this has been asked before (couldn't find it in the archives but it seems like such an obvious question).
I started using BW this weekend and was thorougly depressed when I got booted down to 1-back. I managed to crawl my way to 3-back today and while I was driving yesterday, I felt as if I was slightly sharper than normal. I am betting this is a placebo effect but I certainly hope thats not the case.
My questions for the group:
cheers
jack
I started using BW this weekend and was thorougly depressed when I got booted down to 1-back. I managed to crawl my way to 3-back today and while I was driving yesterday, I felt as if I was slightly sharper than normal. I am betting this is a placebo effect but I certainly hope thats not the case.
My questions for the group:
- What's the greatest direct benefit you've noticed from having trained
in the N-back system? Especially for you 5+ back people, do you FEEL sharper?
- and also do you guys feel as if I should concentrate on just the default dual-n-back or should I try the other tests as well? My time is rather limited, so I'd like to just focus on getting the most bang for my buck.
- Do you guys find yourselves subvocalizing while doing this test? I catch myself going ("c-d-a...") everytime and it seems as if this would screw up my improvement.
- How long did it take you to reach each level? I was seriously embarrassed when I got shot down to 1-back...
cheers
jack
Benjamano
Jan 27, 2009, 10:37:39 AM1/27/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Just got comfortable with 4-back today. 28 sessions over two months. I
also started by holding a n-back-sequence in my mind, and I think that
was okay to get started - give my mind a bit of a hint about what I
wanted it to do - however I believe that is deterimental for further
advancement.
also started by holding a n-back-sequence in my mind, and I think that
was okay to get started - give my mind a bit of a hint about what I
wanted it to do - however I believe that is deterimental for further
advancement.
jack nguyen
Jan 27, 2009, 10:40:41 AM1/27/09
to brain-t...@googlegroups.com
28 sessions over 2 months?
You mean 28 days of practice, each day ~20 sessions, right?
2 months to get to 4-back makes me feel better. Reading about people doing 9-back and 12-back is just scary....--
cheers,
jack
----------------------------------------
http://sites.google.com/site/eviljack
http://www.linkedin.com/in/eviljack
You mean 28 days of practice, each day ~20 sessions, right?
2 months to get to 4-back makes me feel better. Reading about people doing 9-back and 12-back is just scary....
cheers,
jack
----------------------------------------
http://sites.google.com/site/eviljack
http://www.linkedin.com/in/eviljack
Benjamano
Jan 27, 2009, 11:54:05 AM1/27/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
> You mean 28 days of practice, each day ~20 sessions, right?
to "trials" so I was considering a session as made up of 20 trials.
thanks for the correction.
cheers, ben
Ashirgo
Jan 27, 2009, 12:10:21 PM1/27/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Yes, indeed, there are some monsters which reached 7-back after three
weeks of practice and 12 after twelve weeks.
To be honest, I do not feel any obvious difference. There are moments
in which I perceive a significant improvement, though, as well as
particulars task which are much easier now.
To clarify: it is not easy for me to notice any sudden change. The
progress may be rapid but slow enough to leave you time to accustom to
the changes so that you could not detect them.
Regards, Ash
weeks of practice and 12 after twelve weeks.
To be honest, I do not feel any obvious difference. There are moments
in which I perceive a significant improvement, though, as well as
particulars task which are much easier now.
To clarify: it is not easy for me to notice any sudden change. The
progress may be rapid but slow enough to leave you time to accustom to
the changes so that you could not detect them.
Regards, Ash
chinmi04
Jan 27, 2009, 1:27:37 PM1/27/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
1.For me, it definitely has taught me how to focus. But I'm still not
sure whether that has something to do with merely coming to realize
the importance of focusing, or whether the program has really
physically rewired my brain to focus better.
In any case, it appears that I'm now faster at mental reasoning,
creative thinking and speaking fluency. But again, the effects are not
so clear as to completely eliminate any doubt regarding the connection
with the n-back program.
So the greatest direct benefit for me is focus.
2.No idea. Personally I don't like to play default mode because you
easily (relatively) reach the higher n-levels. So I switched to
numbers instead of letters. And then after a while I switched to
triple. Now I'm stuck at 4-back and I mean really really stuck. I
even start wondering whether I will ever reach higher levels. And I
have no idea what's better dual or triple..
3.No, I try to refrain from using strategies like that and try to
focus on the core task of mentally remembering.
4.Yes, in the beginning lapses to 1-back happened. But personally
after a short while I chose to go for triple n-back with numbers...
however im still not sure it's worth it.
sure whether that has something to do with merely coming to realize
the importance of focusing, or whether the program has really
physically rewired my brain to focus better.
In any case, it appears that I'm now faster at mental reasoning,
creative thinking and speaking fluency. But again, the effects are not
so clear as to completely eliminate any doubt regarding the connection
with the n-back program.
So the greatest direct benefit for me is focus.
2.No idea. Personally I don't like to play default mode because you
easily (relatively) reach the higher n-levels. So I switched to
numbers instead of letters. And then after a while I switched to
triple. Now I'm stuck at 4-back and I mean really really stuck. I
even start wondering whether I will ever reach higher levels. And I
have no idea what's better dual or triple..
3.No, I try to refrain from using strategies like that and try to
focus on the core task of mentally remembering.
4.Yes, in the beginning lapses to 1-back happened. But personally
after a short while I chose to go for triple n-back with numbers...
however im still not sure it's worth it.
Confuzedd
Jan 27, 2009, 5:09:34 PM1/27/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
On Jan 27, 8:27 am, jack nguyen <very...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry if this has been asked before (couldn't find it in the archives but it
> seems like such an obvious question).
>
> I started using BW this weekend and was thorougly depressed when I got
> booted down to 1-back. I managed to crawl my way to 3-back today and while I
> was driving yesterday, I felt as if I was slightly sharper than normal. I am
> betting this is a placebo effect but I certainly hope thats not the case.
>
> My questions for the group:
>
> in the N-back system? Especially for you 5+ back people, do you FEEL
> sharper?
Nothing.
> sharper?
> 2. and also do you guys feel as if I should concentrate on just the
> default dual-n-back or should I try the other tests as well? My time is
> rather limited, so I'd like to just focus on getting the most bang for my
> buck.
If you get stuck on a certain level after X amount of time, I say move
> rather limited, so I'd like to just focus on getting the most bang for my
> buck.
on to Triple N-back. I decided to move onto Triple N-back 2 days ago
and I am currently maintaining 2-backs ATM. After several more days
of doing this I'll switch back to Dual-backs and see if I can ever
maintain 4-backs.
> 3. Do you guys find yourselves subvocalizing while doing this test? I
> catch myself going ("c-d-a...") everytime and it seems as if this would
> screw up my improvement.
I do this too, but I don't repeat it more than once in my head. I
> screw up my improvement.
don't think you can avoid this unless you cut off your ear drums.
> 4. How long did it take you to reach each level? I was seriously
> embarrassed when I got shot down to 1-back...
I've been stuck at Dual-3-back and rarely reaching 4-backs and ONE
time reached 5-backs. I've been doing this since November 30th. I
think it took me about a month to reach 3-backs.
>
> cheers
> jack
ArseneLupin
Jan 28, 2009, 4:55:50 AM1/28/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
>1.
Not much, yet, but I feel that I can easier get a hold of a
discussion. The feeling is the same as when I am mastering a certain n-
back in the game (a bit hard to explain).
> 2.
As for you, my time have been rather limited in the game. However, I
have tested Triple n-back, different sounds, and different speeds. At
the moment, I am playing dual n-back with 2.5 seconds (instead of 3),
and with piano notes/letters/numbers as sounds. I am not sure about
the speed, but I believe it's good to also practice faster speeds. In
real life you might have to update your memory with a faster speed
than 3 seconds. Any comments this?
> 3.
Yes, that's also happens to me.
> 4.
I started this weekend, so I don't have much experience. I am now at
dual 5-back (with piano notes/letters/numbers, 2.5 sec), and I believe
I would soon go to dual 6-back. I don't use fallback though, but if if
it goes very bad at a level (<30%) a couple of times, I might change
to a lower level. I change to a higher level if I get around 80-90%
for maybe 5-10 times (in a round of 20 sessions). I realized it's much
harder with the piano notes, but it feels as a good thing to also be
good at only sounds. I actually feel a bit different when I am
listening to music, and that I more easily can catch different sounds.
I don't, however, know how much of my feelings that are placebo.
Maybe it's worth to mention that I am using chunking on the visual
part. I read (have forgot the name) that someone divided the serie
into two parts, I tested it, and it was a great success. My goal is
not to get to the highest n-back as possible, but it's much easier for
me to concentrate if I am chunking the visual parts. Therefore I use
it.
Cheers
/Finn
Not much, yet, but I feel that I can easier get a hold of a
discussion. The feeling is the same as when I am mastering a certain n-
back in the game (a bit hard to explain).
> 2.
As for you, my time have been rather limited in the game. However, I
have tested Triple n-back, different sounds, and different speeds. At
the moment, I am playing dual n-back with 2.5 seconds (instead of 3),
and with piano notes/letters/numbers as sounds. I am not sure about
the speed, but I believe it's good to also practice faster speeds. In
real life you might have to update your memory with a faster speed
than 3 seconds. Any comments this?
> 3.
Yes, that's also happens to me.
> 4.
I started this weekend, so I don't have much experience. I am now at
dual 5-back (with piano notes/letters/numbers, 2.5 sec), and I believe
I would soon go to dual 6-back. I don't use fallback though, but if if
it goes very bad at a level (<30%) a couple of times, I might change
to a lower level. I change to a higher level if I get around 80-90%
for maybe 5-10 times (in a round of 20 sessions). I realized it's much
harder with the piano notes, but it feels as a good thing to also be
good at only sounds. I actually feel a bit different when I am
listening to music, and that I more easily can catch different sounds.
I don't, however, know how much of my feelings that are placebo.
Maybe it's worth to mention that I am using chunking on the visual
part. I read (have forgot the name) that someone divided the serie
into two parts, I tested it, and it was a great success. My goal is
not to get to the highest n-back as possible, but it's much easier for
me to concentrate if I am chunking the visual parts. Therefore I use
it.
Cheers
/Finn
Ashirgo
Jan 28, 2009, 11:11:27 AM1/28/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Thanks, Fin!
My only comment is that the faster you do it, the easier it should
be.
Regards,
Ash
My only comment is that the faster you do it, the easier it should
be.
Regards,
Ash
ArseneLupin
Jan 28, 2009, 3:49:15 PM1/28/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Or I should thank you =).
Yes, it would be harder if you for example had 10 seconds instead of 3
(I guess), but when I have tested 1 second, it is much harder than 3.
I guess faster speed would train more your reactions/update speed (I
am just guessing).
/Finn
Yes, it would be harder if you for example had 10 seconds instead of 3
(I guess), but when I have tested 1 second, it is much harder than 3.
I guess faster speed would train more your reactions/update speed (I
am just guessing).
/Finn
ArseneLupin
Jan 29, 2009, 3:30:29 AM1/29/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
> Yes, it would be harder if you for example had 10 seconds instead of 3
> (I guess),
Or maybe not. Then you probably don't train your working memory.> (I guess),
John
Jan 29, 2009, 2:23:51 PM1/29/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
On Jan 27, 6:27 am, jack nguyen <very...@gmail.com> wrote:
> 1. What's the greatest direct benefit you've noticed from having trained
It's kind of like weightlifting. You hit the gym, and you'll be
stronger than you were when you did not lift weights.
My productivity is much higher these days. I'm a non-fiction writer,
so having a higher working memory and fluid intelligence directly
leads to better (and faster) performance. It's amazing to see the
stuff I produce today and compare it to before I began the Dual N-Back
training.
Also, I am simultaneously learning German, French and Spanish, and I'm
certain this is helping me learn those languages faster.
Good luck with it, Jack! I
Best regards,
John
> 1. What's the greatest direct benefit you've noticed from having trained
> in the N-back system? Especially for you 5+ back people, do you FEEL
> sharper?
I feel much sharper since I started in the middle of last November.
> sharper?
It's kind of like weightlifting. You hit the gym, and you'll be
stronger than you were when you did not lift weights.
My productivity is much higher these days. I'm a non-fiction writer,
so having a higher working memory and fluid intelligence directly
leads to better (and faster) performance. It's amazing to see the
stuff I produce today and compare it to before I began the Dual N-Back
training.
Also, I am simultaneously learning German, French and Spanish, and I'm
certain this is helping me learn those languages faster.
Good luck with it, Jack! I
Best regards,
John
chinmi04
Jan 29, 2009, 2:59:36 PM1/29/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Oh yeah..
I have been maintaining a personal blog on wordpress since 3 years
ago. Average post per month : a little over 1.
Then I started with dual-n-back at the end of november... number of
posts in January : 7! (none are about n-back)
John's post made me realize it.. pretty weird!
I have been maintaining a personal blog on wordpress since 3 years
ago. Average post per month : a little over 1.
Then I started with dual-n-back at the end of november... number of
posts in January : 7! (none are about n-back)
John's post made me realize it.. pretty weird!
Confuzedd
Jan 29, 2009, 6:48:37 PM1/29/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
John, by any chance are you using Supermemo or any other related
spaced repetition flash card system like Anki to help you remember the
huge vocabulary lists?
spaced repetition flash card system like Anki to help you remember the
huge vocabulary lists?
jack nguyen
Jan 29, 2009, 7:05:03 PM1/29/09
to brain-t...@googlegroups.com
Ahhh, the spaced repetition tools....I can't help but wonder if this community doesn't know any more little tricks like this....
John
Jan 30, 2009, 9:31:24 AM1/30/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Yes! I use Mnemosyne, which is at http://www.mnemosyne-proj.org/
I also highly recommend the Foreign Service Institute language
courses. They are in the public domain, and a lot of them are posted
at: http://www.fsi-language-courses.com/
(I'm almost finished with the German course, which is quite good!)
Best regards,
John
I also highly recommend the Foreign Service Institute language
courses. They are in the public domain, and a lot of them are posted
at: http://www.fsi-language-courses.com/
(I'm almost finished with the German course, which is quite good!)
Best regards,
John
John
Jan 30, 2009, 9:38:32 AM1/30/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
On Jan 29, 5:05 pm, jack nguyen <very...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ahhh, the spaced repetition tools....I can't help but wonder if this
> community doesn't know any more little tricks like this....
>
>
>
Yes, it's an awesome trick! I wish I'd known about spaced repetition
> Ahhh, the spaced repetition tools....I can't help but wonder if this
> community doesn't know any more little tricks like this....
>
>
>
back when I was in school. I would have completely dominated every
class that used memorization.
This Wired article gives a great overview:
http://www.wired.com/medtech/health/magazine/16-05/ff_wozniak?currentPage=all
("Want to Remember Everything You'll Ever Learn? Surrender to This
Algorithm")
Best regards,
John
Ginkgo
Feb 2, 2009, 10:10:03 AM2/2/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
1. DN-Back has probably helped me with one of my hobbies.
Message has been deleted
Confuzedd
Feb 4, 2009, 4:38:25 PM2/4/09
to Dual N-Back, Brain Training & Intelligence
Let me add...
I am doing a bunch of writing assignments for my English class. I
would have never known writing a bunch of gibberish isn't all that
bad. Now this is a pretty blind observation because I'm comparing
myself now to my younger self who got 50's and 60's in his English
class. Could it be the n-back practice, or the age difference -- a
better attitude to learn? Or both? ;)
I am doing a bunch of writing assignments for my English class. I
would have never known writing a bunch of gibberish isn't all that
bad. Now this is a pretty blind observation because I'm comparing
myself now to my younger self who got 50's and 60's in his English
class. Could it be the n-back practice, or the age difference -- a
better attitude to learn? Or both? ;)
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages