by Anne Donofrio-Holter
8-24-11
The El Monte-Rosemead Adult School is offering a six-week class, the Brain Fitness program by Posit Science, which is designed to improve focus, concentration, speed of memory processing and sharpen thinking at any age. The class, which begins Monday, November 7, 2011 and concludes Thursday, January 26, 2012, will include supplemental information and handouts on brain health, stress busting strategies and foods beneficial for good brain health.
"Participate in a class that can help you lose ten years of brain age," said El Monte-Rosemead Adult School instructor Desiree Romero. "There are elemental changes in brain function that occur with age starting in our thirties such as speed, accuracy and recording. By addressing these core issues, the program strives to improve our ability to capture information quickly and accurately, and remember it fully."
According to Romero, many students have also 1) increased their ability to discriminate sounds in conversations eight to 40 percent which helps to be more fluid in conversations, 2) have sharpened their sound precision five to 28 percent which comes in handy to remember new memories more accurately, 3) improved sound sequencing six to 65 percent which means the brain is able to recall what is heard in order and remember long strings of information, 4) strengthened auditory working memory by three to 34 percent which helps with information such as automated phone numbers, 5) enhanced their narrative memory eight to 52 percent which helps them feel more confident because much of what is heard comes from information people tell us.
According to Posit Science, their cognitive training programs "take a different approach to brain fitness than other companies. They don’t just drill memory or teach compensatory tricks. Instead, they target important roots of memory and thinking—the ability of the brain to absorb information from the senses. They do this because the quality with which your brain sees and hears has a direct relationship with how quickly you think, how much information you take in, and how well you remember."
Designed by more than 50 brain scientists from leading universities around the world in Posit Science studies, more than 90% of participants reported benefits such as better memory, quicker thinking and stronger communication. The computer-based training program includes six core exercises, gives continuous feedback on progress, adjusts to individual needs and performance, is challenging and engaging and require no prior computer experience.:
"Most other adult schools charge $25-$99 for each class," said Romero. "The El Monte-Rosemead Adult School is offering the class free this semester."
According to Romero, regular attendance is important for success.
"The first day of each session there will be an opportunity to try out the program for free and ask questions," she said. "Please sign up early as there are only 20 seats available per session."
For additional information, including class time and location, call 626.258-5912.