Brain training is structured mental practice designed to challenge cognitive skills such as memory, attention, processing speed and problem-solving.
It usually involves short exercises or games that become more difficult as your performance improves. The aim is to practise a particular mental process, not simply to keep yourself entertained.
How Does Brain Training Work?
Brain training follows the same basic principles as other forms of skill development:
- Practise a specific task.
- Receive feedback on your performance.
- Increase the difficulty gradually.
- Repeat the exercise consistently.
- Track changes in speed, accuracy or level.
For example, an n-back exercise challenges you to hold and update information in working memory. A visual pattern game requires you to notice, store and reproduce a layout. A symbol-matching game may challenge attention and processing speed.
With practice, you normally become better at the task you are training.
Which Cognitive Skills Can Brain Training Challenge?
Different exercises target different mental skills.
Working Memory
Working memory allows you to hold and use information for a short period. It is involved when following instructions, solving problems or remembering what you have just read.
Learn more about how working memory works.
Attention
Attention training challenges your ability to concentrate, notice relevant information and resist distractions.
Processing Speed
Processing-speed exercises require you to understand information and respond accurately under time pressure.
Cognitive Flexibility
These exercises challenge your ability to switch between rules, tasks or different ways of thinking.
Problem-Solving
Problem-solving games may involve identifying patterns, planning steps or applying logic to reach an answer.
Brain Games vs Cognitive Training
The terms brain games, brain training and cognitive training are often used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same.
A brain game can simply be an entertaining puzzle. Cognitive training is usually more structured and targets a defined mental process.
A game becomes a form of training when it:
- Targets a specific cognitive skill.
- Measures performance.
- Adjusts or increases difficulty.
- Is repeated over time.
- Provides useful feedback.
Explore different types of brain training games.
Does Brain Training Work?
Research consistently shows that people can improve at the tasks they practise. The more difficult question is whether those improvements transfer to unrelated skills or everyday life.
A major scientific review found strong evidence for improvement on trained tasks, less evidence for closely related tasks and limited evidence for broad improvements in everyday cognition (Simons et al., 2016).
A large study involving 11,430 participants similarly found that people improved on trained exercises without clear improvement on untrained cognitive tasks (Owen et al., 2010).
More recent research is somewhat more positive but still cautious. A 2024 review found a small improvement in working-memory performance while noting that the practical effect on everyday cognition may be limited (Syed et al., 2024).
The balanced conclusion is:
Brain training can improve performance on the skills and tasks being practised, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed way to become smarter or transform everyday mental performance.
Read the full evidence review in Does Brain Training Work?.
What Brain Training Cannot Do
Brain training is not a medical treatment and should not be presented as a way to prevent or cure dementia, ADHD or another health condition.
The US National Institute on Aging advises caution around claims that commercial brain-training applications can broadly improve memory and thinking (NIA guidance).
Brain training also cannot replace:
- Sleep and physical activity.
- Learning and practising real-world skills.
- Medical assessment for persistent cognitive difficulties.
- Evidence-based treatment recommended by a healthcare professional.
How to Start Brain Training
A simple approach is usually best:
- Choose the skill you want to challenge.
- Select one or two relevant exercises.
- Begin at a manageable difficulty.
- Focus on accuracy before speed.
- Increase the challenge gradually.
- Track your results over time.
- Combine training with healthy everyday habits.
There is no universally established training schedule. A practical starting point is a short session several times per week, followed by adjustments based on your concentration, performance and goals.
Brain Training With NeuroLifts
NeuroLifts offers games that challenge skills including working memory, attention, visual recall and processing speed.
Each game focuses on a particular mental task. Your scores help you observe improvement within that exercise, while increasing difficulty keeps the challenge appropriate to your performance.
Brain training works best when approached as regular, targeted practice, not as a shortcut or a promise of dramatic change.