Thinkie featured in Nature.com article

As you may have seen on our socials, Thinkie was featured in Nature.com^*, the online version of prestigious science magazine Nature, alongside one of the top brain scientists in the field, Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. Thinkie's technology and scientific backing was required to pass muster with Nature's editorial staff to earn this advertorial placement, and we are thus exceptionally proud.

While you can find the full article at the link above, we've prepared a summary highlighting the article's key points:

1. Dr. Ryuta Kawashima, a renowned neuroscientist from Tohoku University in Japan, believes that brain training activities augmented with real-time feedback on brain activity could help prevent cognitive decline as people age. The Thinkie system, developed by NeU (a startup where Dr. Kawashima is the chief technology officer) aligns with this approach by using a wearable sensor to measure brain activity and provide real-time feedback during gameplay
2. The effectiveness of brain training lies in activating the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is involved in cognitive speed and working memory processes. Thinkie's Brain Meter provides visual feedback on brain activity levels during gameplay, using a color spectrum where warmer colors represent higher brain activity. This real-time feedback allows users to focus on activities that generate more brain activity and stimulate the prefrontal cortex, as suggested by Dr. Kawashima's research
3. The Thinkie system uses near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to track blood flow changes in the front brain. This technology aims to provide users with feedback on brain activity while performing various activities. Kawashima and his colleagues have conducted studies to examine how pairing cognitive training with neurofeedback impacts long-term memory, working memory, and attention compared to brain training alone
4. Dr. Kawashima asserts that the key to showing differences from brain training is to ensure that the tasks activate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The Thinkie system incorporates many elements of effective brain training based on current research, including goal-setting features and a "Brain Age" check. However, it's important for users to approach brain training with realistic expectations and to focus on activities that genuinely challenge higher brain functions and require active engagement‍

^*Nature.com is the online version of Nature, a weekly international journal publishing the finest peer-reviewed research in science and technology.