January 2009

Once upon a time… I didn’t “get” abstract art. I understood color, and motion, and composition, sure - after all, I’d been painting since I was a tot. And in art class, I’d gone through exercises of gradually distorting an image until it looked like something (or nothing) else - and I recognized the high level of creativity involved in turning a photo of a toaster into a series of squares and swirls.

But other than the occasional “that looks cool”, my results were lackluster, and the whole thing felt intellectual and cold.

Then I read “Drawing on the Artist Within” (a follow up to the classic “Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain” by Betty Edwards). With one quick exercise from the book, I grokked abstraction on an *emotional* level.

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All About N-Back

Sometime last year, I read about a somewhat confusing, yet convincing technique of brain training, complete with a rather unfriendly name that only a scientist mother could love: “The Dual Task N-Back“.

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Ok, so I’ve convinced you of the value of brain-training… but you just don’t think you can afford the software in this rough economy. That’s ok, there really are plenty of ways to keep your brain exercised on the cheap. 

First, a few points to remember for cognitive workouts: 

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Meet Callie Calico Kaleidoscope Calliope - a particularly adorable 3 month old Pomeranian who came to live with me just in time for Christmas.

In addition to possessing a ridiculously long name and an illegal level of cuteness, Callie is a walking, barking case study in neuroplasticity.

Seriously, her wee little brain seems to change by the hour. She also has a disconcerting tendency to grow in half inch spurts during her afternoon naps, but that’s another story. This one is about her wee little puppy brain, and how it grows.

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Brain fitness, brain games and braintraining software seems to be promoted everywhere these days, from the NYTimes to PBS to small blogs (ahem!)

And ok, so you’ve come to understand the importance of brain fitness, and that all these trainers and games are somehow related to it.

But are these software trainers, coaches and games really *necessary*? After all, some of them can be pretty pricey, with the best known programs running hundreds of dollars.

The answer is a bit confusing….

Yes, No, and Maybe!

I know, I know, I’m being unnecessarily obscure here, but the answer really does depend on you.

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