None of this has been around long enough to generate good longitudinal data either way, imo. That said, taking a cognitive assessment across a couple domains, playing a series of games based on those very same cognitive tasks, and then retaking the same cognitive assessment seems pretty suspect. I would think results would be biased, similar to retest effects. At the end of the day, improvement is either transferred to a variety of other contexts beyond gaming or not. I would think that the true test. There would be some value in a diagnostic, something that would identify deficits, and I think Lumosity offers such a thing but I don't believe it has been rigorously validated.
Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
251–259 of 259 posts
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#252I just wanted to share my thoughts, which are simply: "Thank God!" I've been working on a startup: http://synaptitude.me/ (demo is old) Essentially, we can do some of what Luminosity claims (and have independent studies to prove it). Every time someone goes: "Oh it's just like Lumosity" I have to go through and explain the difference. My wife has a degree in neuroscience and I minored in BioE, and we both just HATE L…
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Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#253Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you seeking help? If not, I suggest seeing a psychiatrist - they have the most experience, much more so than general practitioners.
Appreciate you asking, and great advise - I am :-) actually, when I was younger my parents sought help early for me, and through some of the best specialists in the field. Then for a decade and a half I went it along, and whilst I did ok, overall I think I struggled so I'm getting professional medical help, as well as seeing a professional life coach experienced in helping people with ADHD. It's been good overall!
Can you share your experience on what worked/didn't work for you (medical and non-medical) and why?
I ask 'why' as most ADD/ADHD people have similar symptoms, but their root cause can vary. Your answer can give insights to some of us out here!
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#254Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's my default assumption too. I don't trust them at all, though I still give the company the benefit of doubt. Innocent until proven guilty, etc. And hell, even if they're not lies, they're usually so vague as to be meaningless anyway.
It's also worth noting they don't have to be faked, just mis-represented. You can cherry pick sections of long testimonials. You can cherry-pick testimonials themselves. :-/
Alternate spellings of cherry--pick used to annoy the anally retentive :-)
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#255Unfortunately, it’s a lot easier to sell games than neuroscience. Take an assessment, play games based on that assessment, and take the assessment again --- garbage in, garbage out. The value is in identifying congitive deficits so that proper strategies may be put in place that can be practiced in a variety of contexts such that they are actually transferable to everyday life. There's not a heck of a lot of science in the Lumosity baseline either, since all their data comes from an uncontrolled environment on the web. But there are a number of valid, peer reviewed online neurocognitve batteries available without having to go to a psychologist for a few grand.
NIH Toolbox (for researchers) http://www.nihtoolbox.org/Pages/default.aspx
Mindprint Learning (which has the Penn CNB for children) https://mindprintlearning.com/
Brain Resource (which has the Web Neuro for adults) http://www.brainresource.com/mybrainsolutions/personal
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#256[deleted]
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#257Is the FDA intervention good or bad?
At first glance, it seems like the answer is yes because the FDA action signals that outrageous, unprovable claims do not give offer a competitive advantage. But by making FDA “experts” the sole arbiter of truth, ideas outside the mainstream are harder to pursue. Some people probably really did benefit from the Luminosity, but now it’s much harder to figure out why. Note that the FDA also makes it harder on people like Consumer Reports, Cochrane Reviews, etc. who get fewer donations and customers because much of what they could be doing competes with the FDA’s government-subsidized service.
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#258Earlier quoted context omitted.
I never simultaneously downvote and reply to something. That shouldn't even be allowed. The downvote can be regarded as a form of reply to something that doesn't deserve the normal reply. Under that view, it is contradictory to apply both.
Why shouldn't that be allowed? I downvote and reply to comments I've downvoted if the comment is worth responding to, ie, I say why I downvoted. I don't downvote to disagree, I downvote because the content of the comment is not constructive or useful to the thread. In short, I just downvoted you and then replied to you.
[deleted]
Re: Lumosity fined $2M for deceptive ads of “Brain Training” app
#259Earlier quoted context omitted.
Appreciate you asking, and great advise - I am :-) actually, when I was younger my parents sought help early for me, and through some of the best specialists in the field. Then for a decade and a half I went it along, and whilst I did ok, overall I think I struggled so I'm getting professional medical help, as well as seeing a professional life coach experienced in helping people with ADHD. It's been good overall!
Can you share your experience on what worked/didn't work for you (medical and non-medical) and why? I ask 'why' as most ADD/ADHD people have similar symptoms, but their root cause can vary. Your answer can give insights to some of us out here!
There is no magic cure, I still struggle with it. But it's easier than before, I found medication helps but ONLY if you have it reviewed regularly. Seeing someone to discuss issues with is very helpful. I see a guy who isn't a medical professional but is older and has the condition himself - that's incredibly helpful :-)
Probably less helpful to others is my supportive wife. I probably drive her to distraction at times, which feels awful as I don't mean to. But she forgives me and ensures I don't forget to take my medicine, which is unbelievably important. That's obviously not helpful if you aren't in a significant relationship though.
Wish I had more words of wisdom. I'm still working it all out myself to be honest. I think it's a lifetime struggle, but worthwhile fighting.