Pot, cook: how to help your brain think better

In any autobiography of a successful person, you will not find a confession: "I did it all by myself." In order not to vegetate in everyday life, you need to work hard on yourself. Athletes do not get out of the gym, singers strengthen their vocal cords, but most often the way to success lies through brain training.

Despite thousands of studies conducted, the human brain is still a mystery. For example, the widespread theory that we use the capabilities of our gray matter only by five to ten percent, many scientists fervently reject. It is more or less reliably known only that the brain reaches its peak of development somewhere by the age of 25. At this age, there is a maximum number of synapses — places of contact between neurons of the brain. And then comes the degradation. This process is inevitable, but its intensity can really be controlled.

There are different ways to keep the brain from getting bored. Everyone chooses the one they like best. Creativity, learning foreign languages, solving logical problems, even "Tetris", they say, is very useful. And, of course, reading. However, all these methods are more supportive than stimulating. About like ascorbic acid for breakfast.

According to neuropsychologists, cognitive training is a truly effective way of pumping the brain. These are exercises designed for the focused development of thinking, attention and memory. But there is one problem. They are often dull and monotonous. Few people have the perseverance to engage in such brain fitness regularly. And this is the only way to achieve the desired effect.

For vigorous and entertaining exercises — this is to the online service "Wikium". This brain simulator was developed with the active participation of specialists in cognitive and general psychology of the testing center "Humanitarian Technologies" at Moscow State University. Their task was to dress the training in a game form, add an element of competitiveness, but at the same time not to lose their effectiveness.

Acquaintance with the service begins with the fact that you specify exactly what skills you want to develop. Schoolchildren and students most often tick the box next to aspects related to improving learning ability. Middle-aged people strive to increase their own productivity, the speed of reaction to critical situations and the ability to maintain mental tone throughout the day. And older users usually turn to Wikium to keep their wits sharp and clear for as long as possible.

In addition, before rushing towards self-development, you need to pass an introductory test. It evaluates how well your pot is cooking at the moment. According to the test results, the program makes a personal training program.

Each workout consists of a warm-up and five specialized exercises. In total, it takes no more than 15 minutes. Given the fact that the site has an adequate mobile version, this format allows you to strengthen your head daily. I went down to the subway in the morning and instead of updating my Twitter feed, I updated a couple of neural connections.

All exercises are colorful mini—games for mindfulness, concentration, short-term memory, and so on. At first, they look more like entertainment for pupils of the younger kindergarten group, but as the level of complexity increases, this feeling quickly disappears. I would like to see a kindergarten student who will be able to determine where the submarines are moving at the ninth level of the exercise.

The enduring desire to continue training is based on the excitement and visible results of their own progress. On average, Wikium users improve their memorization skills by 20 percent in two to three weeks, focus twice as well on details after a two-month course of classes, and the reaction rate increases by 15 percent in one week.

The service can be used for free, then nine simulators will be available to you: two for memory, four for thinking and three for attention. Or purchase a premium account that gives access to all exercises in the amount of 41 pieces. Plus, there is access to statistics of your progress, as well as the opportunity to compete with other users.

But the main thing, of course, is not to defeat someone else, but yourself, your laziness. So that later there would be something to write about in the autobiography.