In a world where rapid decision-making, creativity and the ability to solve complex problems are crucial assets, brain training, more commonly known as “brain training”“, is becoming an essential approach to learning. Moreover, this practice fits perfectly into the landscape of vocational training !
So what is brain training? What are its pros and cons? And how can you implement it in your organization? We've covered the question for you!
What is brain training?
“Brain training”, or brain training in French, is an approach that aims to stimulate the brain to improve cognitive functions.
For example, we will seek to develop memory, attention, problem solving or information processing. Very often, this involves activities or games designed by cognitive scientists.
Despite everything, brain training is not yet unanimous among scientists. Some admit that the brain, like any muscle, needs to be trained to maintain its cognitive abilities. Other researchers say that the results obtained by the patients tested before and after such “training” were the same.
What is a brain training activity?
Brain training exercises are not always on mobile or digital. In reality, they can take several forms, as long as they meet 3 characteristics:
- Varied cognitive exercises: brain training activities involve multiple games and exercises to work on each aspect of cognitive skills (logic, memory, concentration...). For example, sudoku is a brain training exercise, just like chess or yoga!
- Adaptability: Brain training exercises should be able to adapt to the needs and skills of the learner.
- A gradual progression: the objective is to promote the gradual improvement of the individual's skills. The exercises will therefore follow a gradual progression, from easy to more complex levels of difficulty.
What are the pros and cons of brain training?
Brain training can provide numerous benefits in the long term, such as:
- improving cognitive functions of the individual, Like memorization, logic, information processing...
- its mental stimulation, maintaining an active brain and reducing the risk of age-related decline.
- his ability to solve problems complexes.
However, its effectiveness is still questionable. For example, brain training does not make it possible to cure brain diseases (Alzheimer, Parkinson, dementia...), but simply to maintain good mental hygiene and to slow the onset of certain pathologies.
How to use brain training in your business?
Brain training can be used in your business in a variety of ways:
- Employee training: incorporate brain training exercises into your training programs to improve the cognitive skills of your employees.
- Stress Management: Offer relaxation and meditation exercises (considered brain training exercises in their own right) to help employees manage stress.
- Decision making: Use problem solving games to improve the ability of employees to make informed decisions.
Brain training is a very good way to assess the cognitive skills of your teams, and to help them in their career development. Even if its effectiveness remains to be proven for some, others say that these exercises really make a difference in the brain exercise of individuals. And you, are you going to adopt brain training in your training?
