Why use IQ Mindware apps?
1. General Intelligence (IQ) Specialization
While other providers offer cognitive training to ‘exercise memory and flexibility’ or ‘memory, attention, brain speed, people skills,’ IQ Mindware has one dedicated purpose: to augment general intelligence (g) as measured by IQ tests. This is why we offer a 10-20 point money-back guarantee on independent IQ tests.
What is IQ?
Intelligence (g) arises through the interaction of cognitive abilities including:
- Fluid intelligence (Gf) – reasoning, concept abstraction & creative problem solving
- Crystallized intelligence (Gc) – acquired knowledge & skills
- Working memory (Gwm) – goal directed short term memory and attention control – also known as executive control
- Processing speed (Gs) – for efficient, auto-pilot cognition
- Emotional intelligence (EI) – for self-regulation & processing emotional information
IQ Mindware apps and programs target these abilities, and through these abilities increase intelligence.
2. Strong Evidence-Base
Unlike other brain training providers, this training is based on developments of a training method (the n-back) that has had in the order of 100 independent peer reviewed scientific studies to evaluate and prove its effectiveness in boosting cognitive capacities measured by professional full-scale IQ tests such as the WAIS-IV.
There is the highest level of evidence and consensus among researchers that this training increases working memory capacity – a subfactor of IQ – via near transfer skill-acquisition.
3. The Problem of ‘Brain Training Lite’
Many brain training providers offer training programs in which users switch frequently between multiple games. This kind of training simply will not result in the long-term neuroplasticity effects in IQ-related brain networks that are needed for real transformation of cognitive ability.
These neuroplasticity effects are shown in this recent Nature fMRI study in orange for an i3 Mindware game compared to a simple cognitive training (control) task in blue. See how the real brain network gains only start to appear from the middle to late phases of training – that is between weeks 4 to 6 where training was one and a half hours per week – on just a single working memory training game.
4. Near vs Far Transfer From Brain Training
If you do your own research, it’s clear that in general cognitive training games like the n-back result in ‘near transfer’ training benefits in challenges that tap similar cognitive skills. This is now a well-established fact, with strong scientific consensus. There are even meta-reviews of meta-reviews proving this.
IQ Mindware uses brain network science to train both both high level cognitive skills such as working memory and attention control for near transfer benefits, as well as the efficient coordination and integration of these skills for new, unfamiliar tasks and challenges – for so-called ‘far transfer’ benefits.
5. Customization For Your Cognitive Training Purpose
Unlike other providers, at IQ mindware offers specialised content and services for a range of purposes:
- professionals in organisations
- teens in organisations
- aptitude/high IQ society test takers
- biohackers/self-experimenters
- Individuals needing more cognitive resilience for burnout
You can subscribe for this customized content by clicking on the customer group on the left panel here.
6. Cognitive Coaching
Unlike other evidence-based brain training providers, IQ Mindware currently offers one-to-one cognitive coaching via ZOOM to help you with your customized cognitive needs. You can book a cognitive coaching session here.
Your coach is cognitive neuroscientist Dr Mark Ashton Smith who can bring over two decades of cognitive neuroscience research to your session.
7. Cognitive Neuroscience Education
Dr Mark Ashton Smith is a BSc and MSc curriculum developer for the University of Essex. One of the missions of IQ Mindware is to provide the same college-level educational content and standards to you via the IQ Mindware customised mailing lists and IQ Mindware YouTube channel.
8. Access
The higher quality evidence-based cognitive training providers are often institutionally embedded, and access to the training is only possible via a number of layers of the institution or organisation. All IQ Mindware training apps and services are immediately and easily accessible for your own independent training.