The Brain Fitness Program (2007)
The Brain Fitness Program is based on the brain’s ability to change and adapt, even rewire itself. In the past two years, a team of scientists has developed computer-based stimulus sets that drive beneficial chemical, physical and functional changes in the brain. Dr. Michael Merzenich of the University of California and his colleagues share their scientifically-based set of brain exercises in this life-altering program.
I donated to PBS and got the set of Brain Training items. This dvd is just the PBS program all over again. It is NOT a brain training program with exercises you can do, etc. It’s talking heads plugging how great their program is. It’s marginally interesting on first viewing but I can’t see wanting to watch it again. Just watch it on PBS and save your money.
The actual brain program this dvd touts is very expensive and available on the website. It came w/ my donation and it’s very well made, but is truly boring, as the other reviewer stated, I dread doing it (and in fact, haven’t in a week or more). It’s focus is auditory not visual which is ok but it’d be better if it had both. I haven’t done it enough to give a thorough review of it or it’s benefits.
After watching the program on PBS, I thought the DVD would have the brain exercises, which it didn’t. I was disappointed.
The “Brain Fitness Program” has a good motive— to keep people’s minds nimble and fit. Exercising the mind IS important, and unfortunately, neglected. “Brain Fitness” manages to blend an otherwise good idea and common sense with pseudo-science and a boring presentation.
“Brain Fitness” is mainly lots of talking heads (this is a PBS program,after all!) Peter Coyote,once prominent in the hippie/psychedelic movement and the world of mind-altering substances,provides lackluster narration. He’s as bored out of his mind as the hapless viewer.
“Brain Fitness” doesn’t address the tricky question of brain chemistry. It naively suggests that their repetitive exercises can miraculously help people recover from strokes, dementia, and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) They tell the story of a widower who suffered from a stroke. Through the exercises, he miraculously recovered and is now happily remarried. It’s presented as a cure-all! If you can sit through it.
“Brain Fitness Program” takes an otherwise good concept, presents it in a dull infomercial way,and backs it up with pseudo-science. Read a book instead.