My four-year old son picks up new words and puts them to use as if they were so many pieces of Lego. Over the course of a dozen or so years, children build up a vocabulary of tens of thousands of words. A child’s ability to absorb and master new information is a constant marvel. By contrast, adults would appear to be relative dullards. But the explanation for the difference between the growing brain and the adult brain yields the secret to the lifelong ability to maintain and improve brain function.

A child’s brain produces large amounts of a protein known as BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). BDNF stimulates the brain’s center of attention and memory formation. For children, the copious production of BDNF means that their brains are constantly ready to take in new information and form new brain structures.

But once we reach our late teens our bodies begin to produce a lot more BDNF, a trigger that shuts down the brain’s attention center. While it may seem odd that our bodies put an end to effortless learning, from an evolutionary perspective it makes good sense; having an always on brain as an adult would make it difficult to discriminate between choices and avoid unproductive distractions.

As scientists have shown, however, the adult brain isn’t hopelessly cut off from further growth and change. We can reactivate the absorption of new information by engaging in mental tasks that requires focus and attention. When these mental tasks also induce a sense of achievement or satisfaction, we can create the conditions for the growth of new nerve cells and plastic change.

Intense focus at a challenging task results in neurogenesis (new nerve cell growth) and neuroplasticity (rewiring of brain structure). If we activate these processes while training core brain functions (e.g., processing speed, memory, and problem-solving ability) we can strengthen and improve our mental ability.

The Three Building Blocks of Effective Brain Training

1. Attention

With mental focus and attention the nucleus basalis produces acetylcholine. Acetylcholine stimulates the brain’s long term memory and retention.

2. Mental Challenge

Mental challenge and reward stimulate the production of another brain chemical – dopamine – which in turn is critical for plastic change.

3. Targeted Mental Exercise

Through the release of acetylcholine and dopamine, focus and mental challenge bring about the production of new neural nerve cells and changes in the brain’s neural infrastructure. Cell growth and plastic change provide the capability for strengthening and improving core brain functions such as problem-solving ability, memory, and processing speed.

Brain Training In Practice

While a host of activities (card games, puzzles, learning a new skill) can catalyze neural growth and help us stay in good mental shape, these incidental benefits tend to be less pointed and dramatic than we can achieve with a scientifically designed and tested brain training program.

The right brain training software can strengthen core brain functions in a highly efficient, measurable and predictable way. This brings a slew of possibilities: Brain training is being used today for correcting learning dysfunctions, reversing the adverse effects of aging, helping to delay or prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms or dementia, improving academic success, and for plain old self-improvement. Some training programs can even produce measurable increases in fluid intelligence or problem-solving ability – until recently believed to be impossible.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult for a consumer to know which brain training products are the right products. Some products billed as ‘brain training’ programs engage the user in teasers and games that don’t have a true scientific foundation. Others may work but cost hundreds of dollars or require a big time commitment.

Since committing to a program requires time and money it pays to check the scientific credentials of the training. What specifically is it designed to achieve? Has its efficacy been independently tested or proven? Does the vendor specify the degree of improvement you should expect? And does training follow a prescribed timeline with set duration and milestones?

Lastly, it’s important to remain aware that even the best brain training program requires our focus and diligence – those essential elements of brain plasticity. As with physical exercise, we can’t improve if we don’t exert ourselves. But the rewards if we do so will be well worth it.