How (not) to train the brain : enhancing what's between your ears with (and without) science /

Examines the field of cognitive fitness and scrutinizes the scientific evidence in support of brain training techniques. With the potential to affect millions this topic is important for scientists, practitioners, educators, and the general public. While many consumers marvel at this highly commerci...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Raz, Amir (Author)
Group Author: Rabipour, Sheida (writer of foreword.); Posner, Michael
Published: Oxford University Press,
Publisher Address: Oxford :
Publication Dates: 2019.
Literature type: Book
Language: English
Edition: First edition.
Subjects:
Summary: Examines the field of cognitive fitness and scrutinizes the scientific evidence in support of brain training techniques. With the potential to affect millions this topic is important for scientists, practitioners, educators, and the general public. While many consumers marvel at this highly commercialized field, discerning fact from fad becomes a challenge given the abundance of products, publications, and contexts. Moreover, available products prey on the naivety of individuals unfamiliar with the nuanced field of neuroscience, advertising programs that lack scientific validation or presenting unfound arguments. In this book, the authors review data from hundreds of articles and provide an overarching account of the field, separating scientific evidence from publicity myth and guiding readers through how they should - and should not - train the brain. They describe existing techniques, including those rooted in scientific research, and survey methods that purport to yield measurable improvements. Intended for a wide audience, this book taps a timely topic by highlighting the most salient approaches to boosting brain function while identifying those that don't seem to work.
Carrier Form: xxii, 349 pages : color illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
ISBN: 9780198789673
019878967X
Index Number: BF431
CLC: B804
Call Number: B804/R278
Contents: List of boxes. Part 1 Why train your brain? : Introduction -- Should we brain-train in school? -- Are you paying attention? Part 2 When an apple a day is not enough : Training the aging brain: is cognitive decline inevitable? -- Rehabilitating and (re- )training the injured brain -- Mental and neurological remediation. Part 3 To train or not to train? : From theory to practice: contextualizing brain training -- Conclusion: the case for brain training. Table of products -- Author index -- Subject index.