Online Test Measures Speed of your Brain

KingSkippus writes "According to CNet, a company named Posit Science has produced an online test using Flash that uses sounds to measure the speed of your brain down to the millisecond. According to the company, the test 'measures auditory processing (listening) speed—one of many measures of brain function...The faster we can take in information accurately, the better we can keep up with, respond to and remember what we hear.'"

Comments

Problems

[BWJones]

Problem: The linked test only works with Windows...... So, never mind.

Seriously though, this title is in a way, kinda bogus science in that it does not measure brain speed per se, but is more a measure of efficiency (a subtle but important difference). Basic central auditory response curves should be identical for most folks unless there is a processing delay like a developmental abnormality in one of the auditory nuclei or unless there is some pathology like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) which could bias the test and not be indicative of cognitive performance. Also, this test could be biased by damage to the cochlear hair cells that reduce ones frequency perception, but this apparent deficiency would have no real bearing on "brain speed" either.

If they are using this test to determine cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's Disease, they should have some disclaimers present that explicitly point out that even mild hearing loss could compromise the results of this study among other causes.

And yes..... IAANS (I Am A NeuroScientist).

And it also appears that the author of the software is trying to sell it to "help people reduce the effects of aging", to which I say pffffft! Just stay physically and mentally active. Go running/walking/swimming/riding a bike and read books or hell, for your brain and auditory processing, even play video games (just make sure you get the physical exercise too and please continue to read books/newspapers). All of that is lots cheaper than forking out $500 for this software and likely more effective?

Re:Problems

[BWJones]

we're all familiar with plasticity, eg blind people who acquire acute hearing as a way of coping with their loss by "exercising" the parts of the brain that deal with hearing.

It should also be known that there is negative plasticity as well, such as the type that can be found in epilepsy, retinal degeneration and other neurodegenerative diseases.

There could be some legitimacy behind this program under these principals, couldn't there? If you constantly tax those parts of the brain through these tests, as those who are blind do every day, couldn't you reap the same benefits? Here's a snip of some of the benefits I'm talking about, taken from a clinical study on the subject.

You are absolutely correct, and there is some legitimacy to this. My objection was the lack of disclosure (and being Windows only) as well as pointing out that there are healthier and cheaper ways to accomplish the same results. i.e. One does not have to buy into dumbed down science and fork over $500 to get the same results.

Re:Problems

[BWJones]

It is quite easy to pose the pundit.

True. It is harder however to make informed decisions without training/knowledge and that is what we rely upon our scientists to do for us, inform us as to their opinion based upon their knowledge and their training. I was simply functioning in that role for this community.

Controlled scientific studies show over a decacde-equivalent improvement in age-related decline.

You are absolutely correct. This has been the case in study after study for what...... 40 years or more?

What basis do you have to claim that these effects may be obtained more simply? What have you done, or what are you referring to, that has been studied in a carefully controlled manner?

As I said just above, these studies have been done for years and the literature is very, very rich. You and the author of this software are not incorrect here.

Re:Problems

[hmahncke]

Hi,

I am the Vice President for Research and Outcomes at Posit Science, which means that among other things, I worked with the team that designed the on-line test and collected the relevant normative data. Like BWJones, IAANS - I did my Ph.D. with Mike Merzenich, the co-founder of the company, on temporal processing in cortical sensory systems (and worked with Blakestah when he was a postdoc there - althought a friend of mine, he's irascible enough that I guarantee he's not an astroturfer :-). I'd like to answer a few of BWJones thoughts:

1) brain speed and brain efficiency: BWJones is correct, there's a difference between brain speed and brain efficiency. In the interests of making an interesting on-line test, we called this brain speed because the threshold output is a reasonable measure of the minimum amount of time the brain requires to correctly identify and sequence two similar sounds. The task is relevant to the fundamental accuracy of the brain's ability to process auditory information and speech.

2) aging and brain speed: BWJones suggests that there should be no differences in these time order judgment (TOJ) thresholds across generally healthy populations, but only in pathological conditions like MS. However, it is the case that many elements of basic brain function, particularly including TOJ thresholds, change significantly over the the normal non-pathological course of aging. We've collected quite a lot of data on this topic over the past year, which is consistent with a large literature on changes in temporal processing (e.g., backward masking, temporal integration) that occur with normal aging.

3) ordinary physical and mental activity: it's absolutely the case that staying physically and mentally active is helpful. However, on the basis of our research and that of many others, we think that larger improvements are possible using appropriate tasks and stimuli that are specifically designed to renormalize the accuracy and speed with which the brain processes information using the principles of brain plasticity.

4) negative plasticity: BWJones mentioned negative plasticity. I agree completely - we have suggested (coming out this year in Progress in Brain Research) that normal age-related cognitive decline is contributed to by negative plastic processes in the CNS, and that appropriate designed training programs to reverse that negative plasticity are likely to improve perception, cognition, memory, and action.

It's nice to see at least a small group of neuroscientists here on slashdot...

Thanks,

Henry

What a joke

[gooberguy]

First, their test only works on windows systems. Secondly, it's just a ploy to get you to buy their stupid software for the low low price of $500.

But what if I'm smart enuf to see that it's bogus

[Harmonious Botch]

What if I'm smart enough to instantly recognize that this test is bogus?

OMG

[irimi_00]

OMG this makes me feel so stupid and incomptetant.

Go here to find out what a big racist, jingoist, judgemental biggot you are:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

Brain speed?

[gmerideth]

The flash component required to view "provides spacfic sounds" so the brain test didn't get past the spelling test before I cancelled it.

Incompatible...

[Cheesewhiz]

"We're Sorry. The current version of the Brain Speed Test is only available for Windows based computers. We are working a version that is compatible with Mac's."

DAMNIT! Why can't I get some friggin' SUPPORT here, people?!? It's the same lame excuse every time -- brain tests, operating systems, popular gaming titles, girlfriends: "Sorry...not compatible."

You know what, FINE! Keep your silly brain test... I'm going to go spend some quality time with my Mac, playing Breakout...

-c

Spacific?

[entrylevel]

The Shockwave application wanted to install a component so that my computer could "generate spacific sounds"... Anyone trying to sell me a brain tester damn well better be able to spell "specific".

I got a 27...where's my prize?

[stungod]

So my score was 27ms. I guess that ain't a bad speed for a 37-year-old.

So does this mean that I am smart, or that I'm just dumb faster? Really, I think I would rather take a little longer to be more correct. It seems that there's plenty of historical evidence to show that the smart people aren't always the first to come up with an answer to a problem.

I guess if I was interested in buying whatevr it is that this guy is selling the I could figure it out. But according to the results of his test, I already have a faster brain than just about everybody. All I need is sharks with freakin' laser beams and I could take over the world!

Then again, maybe I should drink less coffee...

Re:I got a 27...where's my prize?

[Sebastopol]

Four of my friends took it and we all got 27!!!

Something smells rotten in Denmark...

Re:I got a 27...where's my prize?

[adolfojp]

I got a 27 also. This raises some suspicions.

Well, Microserf Brain Speed Anyways...

[Cheesewhiz]

Error Message from Site: We're Sorry. The current version of the Brain Speed Test is only available for Windows based computers.

If anyone was wondering why the average test score seemed a little on the LOW side...

Re:Well, Microserf Brain Speed Anyways...

[user24]

erm that would be funny, except that for this test, a lower score is better....

Looks like a scam

[jerald_hams]

The company claims that their exercises improves...(ugh) your speed of thinking. Gods, that's horrible bunk. They don't actually show that repeatedly taking their tests improves anything but your performance on those specific tests. There's no research behind this, just a scam to take advantage of the elderly with baseless promises of preserving your aging brain's cognitive abilities.

Oblig. Homer Quote

[arrrrg]

So does this mean that I am smart, or that I'm just dumb faster?

Offtopic, but hilarious nonetheless:

Max Power (Homer): Kids, there's three ways to do things. The right way, the wrong way, and the Max Power way!
Bart: Isn't that the wrong way?
Max Power: Yeah, but faster! (Max runs into a cactus)

Hmm...

[Draconix]

We're Sorry

The current version of the Brain Speed Test is only available for Windows based computers. We are working a version that is compatible with Mac's.

Wow! Their brains are so fast they skipped over learning how to pluralize!

Mouse use speed?

[eMartin]

Why would this require using a mouse to click on two icons placed next to each other when that takes time itself?

Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to map the input to two keys on a keyboard?

I have to wonder about the validity of any kind of intelligence test that lacks common sense like that. Well, that and has the spelling mistakes that others noted.

Or maybe I'm just upset that I got a 49.

Re:Mouse use speed?

[AlterTick]

Why would this require using a mouse to click on two icons placed next to each other when that takes time itself? Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to map the input to two keys on a keyboard? I have to wonder about the validity of any kind of intelligence test that lacks common sense like that.

Well, first, it's not an intelligence test, but a test of auditory processing speed; and second, it doesn't matter how fast you click the arrows, only whether you click them in the correct order. Did you even read the instructions?

Anyway, I question the seriousness of a test that's clearly there as a marketing aid for some dubious $500 "Brain Fitness" training software. Also, the fact that the best score they have recorded on their graph for ANY age group was 32, and I, a 37 year old Army vet with permanent "artillery ear" tinnitus, got 23.

Re:Obviously a confidence trick.

[Indras]

The scary thing is, this is exactly how the Church of Scientology recruits. They administer a free "Personality Test" to anyone who wants to take it. The test results ALWAYS have some "critical" flaw that is causing you to be unstable. If you don't fix it right away, you might just go insane. Fortunately, the Church has a remedy for your mental disease, if you just sign up for one of our free classes...