Strategies and Observations
Anyone have suggestions on how we could organize a list of information pertaining to each test. Test by test threads, at least for the present moment? And is there a good way to prompt for and structure our collective observations? A template perhaps? Such as:
Test strategy template:
Training results template:
For example, using the test strategy template,
Here is my picture 8-back strategy.
Encoding: I encode the image types with words such as: ball, pencil, spoon, ... and “hear” the images.
Chunks/Objects: I keep 2 ordered chunks of size 4 in my mind at once.
Procedure: I then manipulate the chunks one at a time, and ignore the other one until its turn comes around to reduce memory load (limiting it to about 8 + a pointer to the current element being compared).
Specifically, for example, I take the current chunk WXYZ, the current picture H, and my pointer p indicating that X is the picture 8-back. I then follow these steps:
1.Is X the same as H
2.Answer
3.Replace X with H, making the chunk WHYZ
4.make the pointer p point to Y
5.continue
Subjective impression:
The above is my best introspective representation of what I'm doing. I know that if I do not choose to chunk the pictures my score is abysmal. I also subjectively “hear” the names of the pictures. Once in while, I observe myself imagining a picture so I cannot be sure that what I do is purely auditory (in contrast to my purely visual picture 2-back strategy). My biggest problem is I tend to be overeager in saying I recognize a picture as 8 back when it is not.
Results:
I got 73% on picture 8-back last time I took it with a response time of 918ms on average.
Training Template example:
1.My visual reaction time has improved over the last month and a half from about 190ms to about 180ms.
2.I have trained using the cognitive fun test about 30 times over the last month and a half using the normal strategy (hard to introspect on “I maintain alertness and finger tension, the green dot shows up, I click the mouse button”). I've been using a p/2 mouse and a CRT display.
3.It is hard to say for sure what has caused the improvement, I believe it is the reaction time test itself but I have also been training on other cognitive test/games like dual n-back (at level 5, brain workshop version) and have just started taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements (1/3 of what is recommended on the bottle out of caution).
4.As to the effect it has had on my life? I do not know. A change of 1/20 is hard to notice and I have observed nothing overt.
Learn much,
quaternion
Test strategy template:
Training results template:
For example, using the test strategy template,
Here is my picture 8-back strategy.
Encoding: I encode the image types with words such as: ball, pencil, spoon, ... and “hear” the images.
Chunks/Objects: I keep 2 ordered chunks of size 4 in my mind at once.
Procedure: I then manipulate the chunks one at a time, and ignore the other one until its turn comes around to reduce memory load (limiting it to about 8 + a pointer to the current element being compared).
Specifically, for example, I take the current chunk WXYZ, the current picture H, and my pointer p indicating that X is the picture 8-back. I then follow these steps:
1.Is X the same as H
2.Answer
3.Replace X with H, making the chunk WHYZ
4.make the pointer p point to Y
5.continue
Subjective impression:
The above is my best introspective representation of what I'm doing. I know that if I do not choose to chunk the pictures my score is abysmal. I also subjectively “hear” the names of the pictures. Once in while, I observe myself imagining a picture so I cannot be sure that what I do is purely auditory (in contrast to my purely visual picture 2-back strategy). My biggest problem is I tend to be overeager in saying I recognize a picture as 8 back when it is not.
Results:
I got 73% on picture 8-back last time I took it with a response time of 918ms on average.
Training Template example:
1.My visual reaction time has improved over the last month and a half from about 190ms to about 180ms.
2.I have trained using the cognitive fun test about 30 times over the last month and a half using the normal strategy (hard to introspect on “I maintain alertness and finger tension, the green dot shows up, I click the mouse button”). I've been using a p/2 mouse and a CRT display.
3.It is hard to say for sure what has caused the improvement, I believe it is the reaction time test itself but I have also been training on other cognitive test/games like dual n-back (at level 5, brain workshop version) and have just started taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements (1/3 of what is recommended on the bottle out of caution).
4.As to the effect it has had on my life? I do not know. A change of 1/20 is hard to notice and I have observed nothing overt.
Learn much,
quaternion
quaternion | 3 years ago
Reply
Hmm. Some of my post didn't show up. What I intended for the two templates was:
Test strategy template:
Strategy name if any
Method: encoding, information chunks/objects you manipulate in your mind, procedure
Subjective impression: how it feels, when it breaks
How well it works
References to papers and research results if any
Training results template:
how much you have improved?
about how much have you trained and how have you trained?
what do you think could have affected your score?
what effect do you think this has had on your life?
Test strategy template:
Strategy name if any
Method: encoding, information chunks/objects you manipulate in your mind, procedure
Subjective impression: how it feels, when it breaks
How well it works
References to papers and research results if any
Training results template:
how much you have improved?
about how much have you trained and how have you trained?
what do you think could have affected your score?
what effect do you think this has had on your life?
quaternion | 3 years ago
Reply
We are thinking along similar lines. I was thinking about starting with research paper links. But specific discussions like those you listed would be useful as well.
cognitivefun | 3 years ago
Reply
