As some researchers examine brain functions with advanced imaging technology, other scientists are measuring brain speed with the click of a mouse.
San Francisco-based Posit Science unveiled a program in recent weeks that tests how fast a person's brain can process information, based on his or her hearing speed.
"Auditory processing speed is important because much of the information we receive each day is communicated through sound--especially speech," according to Posit Science, which has developed software that promotes brain fitness. "The faster we can take in information accurately, the better we can keep up with, respond to and remember what we hear."
The 10-minute online test, at the company's Web site, measures how fast and accurately the test-taker can detect different sounds, by having the test-taker click on arrows. Once finished, the test-taker will receive a measurement of his or her brain speed, down to the millisecond.
In your 20s, the average speed of auditory processing is 68 milliseconds. That number jumps to an average of 87 milliseconds in your 40s and 106 milliseconds in your 60s.
Focus on brain research has been heightened in recent years with advances in technology that make it possible to determine everything from brain speed to emotional responses to Super Bowl ads. Posit Science, through its founder, neuroscientist and software entrepreneur Mike Merzenich, is concentrating on developing software programs that promote cognitive fitness and reverse the effects of aging.
Recent research findings show its brain fitness software, a computer-based training program, is having positive effects on elderly people. Seniors who participated in an eight-week training study with Posit Science showed improvement in neuron-cognitive function and memory, growing younger on average of auditory memory and attention by 10 years.
Still, the software to improve brain speed and memory isn't cheap. It costs about $500 for one PC. Or people can buy it bundled with a Dell Dimension 1100 computer for $1,000.
Small problem with this test is the differencec is people who have trained fast-twitch muscle responses, versus those who have not trained them.
This test simply checks ear-hand response without taking into account any disabilities, limitations and, most importantly, because it is being done online, net lag-times.
In other words, as any kind of valid neuromuscular response test - it's worthless as it is online, even if there is a ping relational test built into the signal/response timer. Lag can and will still confound it when one is measuring in milliseconds. And that's to say nothing of the lag time in processing that a person's computer might have due to overhead computing in the background due to other tasks, spyware, etc.
This "test" conforms to the 90% section of Sturgeon's Law.
Lee Darrow, C.H. <a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.leedarrow.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.leedarrow.com</a>
I was clicking like a madman at first until I realized that it was checking whether you can differentiate between increasingly rapid bursts of escalating and descending pitches, not how fast you click the buttons.
you really don't have the slightest idea of how this test actually functions otherwise you would have realized that the speed is referring to the sounds in the test not how fast you are able to click... moron
you really don't have the slightest idea of how this test actually functions otherwise you would have realized that the speed is referring to the sounds in the test not how fast you are able to click... moron
I dont see it? I have a Mac, I got to the page. Maybe they fixed it. I dont like the fact that they dont have a Mac version, but your attempt at trying to be funny is weak at best. Just sounds petty.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard about or tried. What about comprehension... isn't that more important... up down down up... waht a silly meassure.
This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard about or tried. What about comprehension... isn't that more important... up down down up... what a silly meassure.
Score: 29 milliseconds Age:27 Sex: Male Occupation: Electronics Tech - Audio/Video Specialist Time of test: 11:14pm 3-25-06 with headphones Current "state of mind": 1 miller lite, 2 rum and cokes and 1 "special" cigarette. Additional comments: I think it's a combination of my attention to sound frequencies as part of my occupation, in addition to my focus due to my current "state of mind". I will try again during other conditions to compare.
I scored 32 and I am 36 as of January and have drank almost a 750 ml of Jagermeister before taking the test. Yes I am very computer literate. But I think the average score is way to high unless these peaple are just about brain dead.
I'm kinda surprised to have scored 25ms, right the first time I took this test. I don't know what this proves exactly, but I can tell you that it doesn't AT ALL mean that I have a memory to be envious of. I have to read books twice before they stick (same goes for movies), when people introduce themselves to me I immediately forget their names, and I get lost easily because I can't remember if I've been at a certain spot before.
Using the net to measure response time seems gimmicky, and the actual benefit to real life may be questionable, but the guys who did the research and software design are very highly respected and know their stuff.
... a Scientific Learning product which has focused on improving auditory signal processing for the last 10 years. The exercises are almost exact copies of Fast Forword's exercises. Fast Forward uses an internet connection to the home office to evaluate progress and schedule the appropriate next set of exercises after each session. The copy seems satisfied with letting the CD program control the operations.
Can't get a whole lot excited over a 'me too' program, especially when the original does it better.
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This test simply checks ear-hand response without taking into account any disabilities, limitations and, most importantly, because it is being done online, net lag-times.
In other words, as any kind of valid neuromuscular response test - it's worthless as it is online, even if there is a ping relational test built into the signal/response timer. Lag can and will still confound it when one is measuring in milliseconds. And that's to say nothing of the lag time in processing that a person's computer might have due to overhead computing in the background due to other tasks, spyware, etc.
This "test" conforms to the 90% section of Sturgeon's Law.
Lee Darrow, C.H.
<a class="jive-link-external" href="http://www.leedarrow.com" target="_newWindow">http://www.leedarrow.com</a>
The test doesn't check how fast you click the boxes, rather it tests how fast you can HEAR the changes and tell what the changes are.
To be sure, I left in the middle of the test, ate lunch, and came back, and got a better result than the first time.
So, I would suggest checking things out first.
"compatiable" with Macintosh.
I'm going to retest in the morning, and then also retest another time with a good jolt of CAFFEINE.
So am I some sort of super-genius, or just a reeeealy lucky guesser?
Age:27
Sex: Male
Occupation: Electronics Tech - Audio/Video Specialist
Time of test: 11:14pm 3-25-06 with headphones
Current "state of mind": 1 miller lite, 2 rum and cokes and 1 "special" cigarette.
Additional comments: I think it's a combination of my attention to sound frequencies as part of my occupation, in addition to my focus due to my current "state of mind". I will try again during other conditions to compare.
Age: 21
actual benefit to real life may be questionable, but the guys who
did the research and software design are very highly respected and
know their stuff.
auditory signal processing for the last 10 years. The exercises
are almost exact copies of Fast Forword's exercises. Fast
Forward uses an internet connection to the home office to
evaluate progress and schedule the appropriate next set of
exercises after each session. The copy seems satisfied with
letting the CD program control the operations.
Can't get a whole lot excited over a 'me too' program, especially
when the original does it better.