The Brain Fitness Program on PBS

[BB]

I saw a great program on PBS tonight called "The Brain Fitness Program."

It features Michael Merzinich, who is spoken of extensively in "The brain that changes itself."

Check it out.

[EricM]

Cory, I admit to watching this program and being intrigued with some of the ideas. It seems they may be at the forefront of thought, so to speak, when it comes to designing programs that take advantage of neuroplasticity to both learn, and unlearn. I think I also saw one show featuring Dr. Amen. I'l post the following links as what I believe are fair critiques of these types of programs.

In this Science Based Medicine Blog, Harriet Hall wrote:

And of course, there is great potential for financial gain. Quacks will jump on the neuroplasticity bandwagon and offer their own untested treatments. Programs like The Brain Gym and the Brain Fitness Program are already out there, promising far more than they have any right to.

She's also written A skeptical view of SPECT scans and Dr. Amen.

Consider also The brain scam on PBS from Salon.com.

[BB]

Good points Eric. While the salesmanship of the program is included in the program, so is access to Merzinich. I believe it was Merzinich's work on map expansion and contraction that made Ramachadran begin to think about phantom limbs. I does seem as though he's onto cashing in now.

Daniel Amen seems to be in another class of salesmanship. I read one of his books early on in my break away from meso-ville, and it was intriquing to think of the brain in this way at that time for me. He speaks a lot of "balance" of the various brain areas and so on in ways that I would have put that book right back on the shelf now. He's not in the same class as a Merzinich, scientist-wise, at all it seems.

[EricM]

So...has anyone here bought the POSIT program for themselves yet? A review would be interesting.