ECTs vs. video games for badminton development

[gregr999]

http://www.badders.com/forum/showthread.html?t=1429

In the thread above, I brought up the subject of brain speed in sports. I also discussed some ways to develop brain speed as well as other visual & cognitive skills. One method is thru sports vision training. This is usually done with an optometrist that specializes in this type of training, Another method of developing brain speed & other cognitive skills is thru the use of specially designed software that employs ECTs, elementary cognitive tasks.

However, that thread evolved (degenerated) into a discussion of video games. So I thought that I would start a fresh thread to discuss the relative merits of both video games and ECTs. Elaborate, fast-action video games can provide an excellent challenge that is very much like complex, fast-action sports such as badminton. These type of video games can aid in developing reflexes, peripheral awareness, multi-tasking & other hand-eye-brain skills. In this respect, these games are very much like playing another sport for the purpose of developing skills thru cross-training.

Cross-training can be a very worthwhile pursuit as long as it does not interfere or cause one to develop bad habits for the primary sport or activity. The major drawbacks with complex video games as a cross-training tool is that they do not ordinarily recruit large muscle groups and they usually require a rather lengthy learning curve to become proficient enought to develop some of the desired hand-eye-brain skills.

ECT software products includes THINKfast (no longer available?), MyBrainTrainer (http://www.MyBrainTrainer.com), BrainBuilder (http://www.BrainBuilder.com), & HappyNeuron (http://www.HappyNeuron.com). The latter 2 products are biased a bit more toward memory development, whereas TF and MyBrainTrainer (MBT) includes more exercises geared toward sports such as badminton. MBT also includes some memory testing & development as well as those exercises that have more of an athletic application. (MBT might also be a better choice for many because it is quite a bit cheaper than the others).

By its very nature, an ECT is usually a much simpler, more focused type of training. However, to be useful, an ECT should provide a challenge if tho' it might be simpler. Because if its relative simplicity, the learning curve is much quicker than for a more complex task. But if the ECT is well-designed, it should continue to provide a challenge even tho' its basic concept has been mastered after a handful of trials.

If the fast, complex video game is analagous to play another sport for cross-training, the ECT is more like performing specific drills to develop certain skills or develop certain muscle groups that need improvment. Drilling to develop badminton skills is considered very important for serious players. ECT exercises also serve a function that is similar in scope to strength development, interval training, plyometrics and endurance training.

ECTs provide several advantages in the development of brain speed & other athletic-cognitve skills. One of these is that they act as a barometer... they provide concrete, quantitative measurements on (reaction) speed, accuracy and consistency for a variety of skills. Each exercise concentrates on just a few select skills so that it becomes much easier to indentify areas where we need more training. As a baromter, the exercises tell us how well we perform now.

However, the ECTs are much more than just a barometer. They also function as a training tool... they provide us with a means to develop weaknesses and improve our strengths as well. The quantitative measurements can provide a wealth of data to chart improvements as various skills are honed.

Another advantage to ECTs is that they do not need to be time-consuming. As I mentioned before, the learning curve should be fairly rapid. Testing & training with ECTs can be very effective with as little as 10-15 min a day. Optimum results may be see with two 10 min session per diem. This should leave ample time for video games & on-court badminton training.

Even for video-gamers, ECTs should provide a very valuable adjunct to your badminton training. I'm certain that you will discover, after several weeks of ECT training, that you will experience improvements in both your badminton play & your video game scores.

[redkingjoe]

Hey Greg,
excellent post!!! in addition to cross training, i would like to talk about training for mental toughness and mental endurance:
There is no doubt that Danes and other Europeans can compete at the top level -- they have the skills and physique. But there is one important aspect -- mental toughness -- that I think the European players need to work on. from:

http://www.badders.com/news/item/672/Badminton-must-reach-out-and-go-global

actually, i did a lot of observation on courts for competition and discussion with various coaches about badminton strategies...and many a coach unaminously pointed out to me that mental toughness makes a hugh difference for both the top players and grass root players, especially when the skill level are more or less the same. and i have seen a few "fierce competitions" that the "slightly weaker" or the "losing side" won the game just because of the toughness...the winning side was so "fed up" that he "just" gave up.

i want to talk about a game called "columns"...this was the only vedio game that my wife plays...she even shared the experience in senior executive meeting...if u look at the image, u know how to play, i think...
this is one of the few games out there that if one can think and response fast enough and never gives up, one can play long looooooooooooooooooooong time say 5-6 hours with only one single coin.

there are a few "morals" of this game:
1 it will finish; it's a matter of time
2 if you can response faster and make faster reaction, you will keep going and get less into problems(the more skillfull the better)
3 when the Gems fall down, you need to determine to "cancel" some gems but "sacrify" some others by picking not to cancel them; a somewhat "zero sum" game...a good decision will sacrify less...like life u either do trianing/playing or studying after school; each choice have difference impacts and consequences in short run or long run
4 if you have made "enough errors", the Gems will stack to the top and game over...now it's the time for decide to get focus and encounter the difficulty or give up early...if you are tough and lucky enough, there would be a "magic gem" falling down to cancel a lot of gems and you can go on and on...(the magic gem in badminton is like the error of your opponent or when your opponent started to lose in morale which is a chance)...

back to the game, i think this game will enhance quick thinking and mental toughness...if you really try hard

[JoeWright]

Could you please post links to research data supporting the effectiveness of these techniques?

Thanks
Joe

[redkingjoe]

Could you please post links to research data supporting the effectiveness of these techniques?

Thanks
Joe

hi joe,
how are you? excellent point on research data...for my part, i need to point out that the research method we employed was case study....the only cases were me and my wife...but eveytime when either me or my wife played with the columns game, we have felt the mental endurance training moral...don't ever give up...never ever even think of giving up unless one is really really beaten

thus i've to leave the research data part, the most difficult part of course, to gregr999 for his handling

[JoeWright]

I'm fine, thanks for asking.

The problem with this is that motor learning and performance research has fundamentally undermined the concept of general skill training (e.g. balance training). What we are talking about here is neurological training (formation of neural net patterns in the brain) and research has found this to be highly task specific with little or no transfer to different skills (sort of obvious to those with NN knowledge).

Therefore, unless the simulation accurately mimics the sensory data of the real badminton situation then current research suggests it is unlikely to provide a training benefit that transfers to the desired skill.

Joe

[gregr999]

Could you please post links to research data supporting the effectiveness of these techniques?

Sorry Joe, I don't think that I have any links for the research data that you seek. Most of what I know of sports vision training & brain training thru the use of ECTs is from my own personal experience & from what I've read from sources other than the internet. I'm afraid that online access to psychological & biological journals that might have that sort of research data is by subscription only (intended for professionals in those fields rather than for the lay public).

I have read quite a bit on both subjects, but much of it was quite some time ago. Sports vision training is something that I utilized back in the late 1980s (when I was in my late 30s). Much of what I had read on that subject was 15 to 20 years ago. I discovered brain training thru the use of ECTs some 8+ years ago. Brain.com had a product, THINKfast (TF) that I was using at that time (& still use to some extent). They no longer support TF since they no longer own the rights to that software. However, when brain.com had THINKfast as an active product they had quite a bit of references to studies on the efficacy of the software for both IQ (or g factor) and for athletic acumen.

Note that MyBrainTrainer.com (http://www.MyBrainTrainer.com) is now licensed for most of that THINKfast software. MBT has also added quite a few more exercises (ECTs) to the original TF exercises.

My experience, rather than what I've read, with both vision training & ECT brain training have me convinced me that these training tools are extremely worthwhile for sports such as badminton & tennis. In addition to the TF & MBT exercises, I've also have tried the BrainBuilder & some HappyNeuron cognitive exercises. The latter 2 have some excellent exercises but they are more oriented toward memory improvement & have only a few exercises that have a direct bearing on athletic performance.

My suggestion to you is to give it a try for yourself... (the cost for the MBT product is very low right at this point in time).

You might try looking at the web site links that I've provided in my previous post to see if they have links or enough info to satisfy your curiosity. Also, try some of these:

http://www.mybraintrainer.com/press/index.asp?press_id=5
http://www.mybraintrainer.com/about/study.asp
http://www.mybraintrainer.com/article/isiqjustamatter.asp

http://espn.go.com/magazine/vol5no11freaks.html
http://straitstimestest.asia1.com.sg/health/story/0,4395,219758,00.html?
http://www.happyneuron.com/gbhappyneuron/information/corpus/saga/fct_cogni.asp
http://brainbuilder.com/about_real_life_benefits_att.asp

If you really want in-depth info/data on these techniques try googling some of the following:

mental chronometry
elementary cognitive tasks
psychometric measurement
psychometric testing
Arthur Jensen

I believe that the idea of ECTs may have been developed in the 1970s by Arthur Jensen (Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology, Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley). During the 40 years of his tenure at Berkeley, he has been a prolific researcher in the psychology of human learning, individual differences in cognitive abilities, psychometrics, behavioral differences in cognitive abilities, behavioral genetics, and mental chronometry.

You will probably find that ECTs have been proposed as an alternative means for determining general intelligence (without cutural biases). There is quite a bit on ECT and its relationship to the concept of g. ECTs have also been used for sports vision trainining, other athletic training, and for testing for dementia (AD) by clincal psychologists.

You might also want to look at IQ & learning theories of Howard Gardner. In particular, look into his Multiple Intelligence Theory. Investigate what he has to say about Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence and Spatial Intelligence. I believe that both of these types of intelligences apply to capable badminton players and other accomplished athletes.

[gregr999]

The problem with this is that motor learning and performance research has fundamentally undermined the concept of general skill training (e.g. balance training). What we are talking about here is neurological training (formation of neural net patterns in the brain) and research has found this to be highly task specific with little or no transfer to different skills (sort of obvious to those with NN knowledge).

Therefore, unless the simulation accurately mimics the sensory data of the real badminton situation then current research suggests it is unlikely to provide a training benefit that transfers to the desired skill.

I would say that particular research that you've alluded to may, perhaps, be flawed. From my own readings, I've seen quite a bit of disagreement between experts an various aspects of learning. Even tho' some research might suggest one thing, other research indicates quite another. Perhaps you could provide some links or references to that research that you mentioned.

I've also heard it said research indicates that there is no transference or training benefit to cross-training. My involvment in various sports for more than 30 years say this simply is not true. I've seen it in myself & I've seen it in many others. Sports vision training & athletic brain training (with ECTs) are adjunct training, not meant to replace actual badminton training. Other adjunct activities that have some training benefit for badminton would include strength development, plyometrics, cross-training (another sport), video games, and visualization (imagery exercises).

My own personal experience also indicates that the brain-training ECTs has a very definite effect on ahtletic performance. I've had days when i've been sluggish on the court (badminton & tennis) due to mental or physical fatigue. After 15 min or so of training thru ECT exercises, I find that I can usually wake up my brain and return to the court with much better reflexes and vastly improved ahtletic performance. I've also been able to more readily achieve "the runner's high" on the court once I've "woken up my brain".

Conversely, iIf I go back to the ECT exercises after achieveing this high, my scores of the ECTs reflect this hightened state with improved reaction times as well as higher levels of accuracy & consistency. Not only do I see an undeniable transference from the brain-training exercises to the court, I see a distinct positive effect of atheltic exercise on my subsequent ECT performance as well.

For get the research for a while, keep an open mind & give it a try for a month or so. If you give it a real chance (even with moderate effort), I can guarentee that you will experience a training benefit.

[gregr999]

Say red!

I've seen the Columns game that you mentioned... I think that it is also known as Bejeweled or Gems. Tetris & testris-like games also come to mind as a similar sort of challenge for the brain.

Mental toughness is definitely a subject worthy of further investigation. Mental toughness can be rather elusive for many players... in some instances, many players find that they can summon it up. Yet in other situations, these same players self-destruct. There are actually quite a few facets to the idea of mental toughness. ECTs help to develop some, but not all, aspects of mental toughness. You have hit upon one (or 2) very important facet(s) of mental toughness... mental endurance, which can include sustained concentration (vigilance) and the ability to rebound from a setback.

What is mental toughness? In sports psychology, mental toughness is a combination of learned skills that will help to raise the level of your training and competitive performance: These can include:

~ Goal Setting
~ Stress Management
~ Self-Confidence
~ “Reboundability”
~ Focus - Concentration - Vigilance
~ Imagery & Visualization

An athlete who is mentally tough knows how to raise their motivation & commitment level, focus or intensify their desire, and maintain their composure (this includes emotional control). Resiliency is also an important factor in developing the champion mindset.

A mentally tough athlete strives for excellence rather than demanding (or expecting) perfection of themselves. Striving for excellence vs. demanding perfection... there is an important disctinction between these two approaches that many do not realize (more about this in another post).

A mentally tough athlete has the ability or put aside setbacks & distractions & focus on the NOW. This athlete knows how to overcome self-limiting expectations. The mentally tough can identify and reduce mental factors that impede performance - such as, lapses in concentration, pre-performance anxiety and ‘choking’ under pressure. Thru training they can learn to improve motivation, self-confidence, mental attitude and can also learn to overcome fear of failure.

As I mentioned before, ECT training and video games can aid in developing some aspects of mental toughness. To develop other aspects of toughness, athletes may turn to sports psychologists for help in this endeavour.

[gregr999]

Some years ago I realized that my perfectionist tendencies were actually, quite often, counter-productive. Frustration, constant dissatisfaction and incomplete projects & assignments were often by-products of this perfectionism. I eventually came to realize that striving for excellence was a much better, much nobler modus operandi than demanding perfection of myself.

Some years ago, I came across a poem, Excellence, on the internet that summed of the differences between these 2 modes of operation quite well. I re-arranged it somehwhat & added another 6 lines to the original. Hope you find it worthwhile...


------ Excellence ------

Excellence is willing to be wrong,
Perfection is having to be right.

Excellence is enduring,
Perfection is fleeting.

Excellence is spontaneous,
Perfection is control.

Excellence is risk,
Perfection is fear.

Excellence is striving,
Perfection is demanding.

Excellence is acceptance,
Perfection is criticism.

Excellence is powerful,
Perfection is anger & frustration.

Excellence is freeing,
Perfection is stifling.

Excellence is giving,
Perfection is taking.

Excellence is confidence,
Perfection is doubt.

Excellence is flowing,
Perfection is pressure.

Excellence is journey,
Perfection is destination.

[redkingjoe]

Some years ago I realized that my perfectionist tendencies were actually, quite often, counter-productive. Frustration, constant dissatisfaction and incomplete projects & assignments were often by-products of this perfectionism. I eventually came to realize that striving for excellence was a much better, much nobler modus operandi than demanding perfection of myself.


what a co-incident!!! i'm a obssessive compulsive perfectionist....i know the counter-productiveness of perfectionalism but just couldn't do much to control the feelings the needs of perfect!!!

i like the poem very much,.

[redkingjoe]

Say red!

I've seen the Columns game that you mentioned... I think that it is also known as Bejeweled or Gems. Tetris & testris-like games also come to mind as a similar sort of challenge for the brain.

Mental toughness is definitely a subject worthy of further investigation. Mental toughness can be rather elusive for many players... in some instances, many players find that they can summon it up. Yet in other situations, these same players self-destruct. There are actually quite a few facets to the idea of mental toughness. ECTs help to develop some, but not all, aspects of mental toughness. You have hit upon one (or 2) very important facet(s) of mental toughness... mental endurance, which can include sustained concentration (vigilance) and the ability to rebound from a setback.

What is mental toughness? In sports psychology, mental toughness is a combination of learned skills that will help to raise the level of your training and competitive performance: These can include:

~ Goal Setting
~ Stress Management
~ Self-Confidence
~ “Reboundability”
~ Focus - Concentration - Vigilance
~ Imagery & Visualization

An athlete who is mentally tough knows how to raise their motivation & commitment level, focus or intensify their desire, and maintain their composure (this includes emotional control). Resiliency is also an important factor in developing the champion mindset.

A mentally tough athlete strives for excellence rather than demanding (or expecting) perfection of themselves. Striving for excellence vs. demanding perfection... there is an important disctinction between these two approaches that many do not realize (more about this in another post).

A mentally tough athlete has the ability or put aside setbacks & distractions & focus on the NOW. This athlete knows how to overcome self-limiting expectations. The mentally tough can identify and reduce mental factors that impede performance - such as, lapses in concentration, pre-performance anxiety and ‘choking’ under pressure. Thru training they can learn to improve motivation, self-confidence, mental attitude and can also learn to overcome fear of failure.

As I mentioned before, ECT training and video games can aid in developing some aspects of mental toughness. To develop other aspects of toughness, athletes may turn to sports psychologists for help in this endeavour.

thank you for the clear elaboration.

i just want to add that columns is a much better game for training than tertris although both r of similar genre. columns provides a "magic jewel" that will act as an "opportunity"...no matter how wrong one plays and how high the Gems stack up...as long as one is not beaten, once the magic jewel falls down, the whole game will turnaround...

this is similar to playing a badminton game with a tough opponent and one is on the losing side: if one gives up, one will lose the game almost immediately. but if one never gives up, and trying the very hard to not losing one single point, when the opportunity comes there will be a turnaround.

in international competition, the chinese are very famous for mental toughness. they will not give up even losing 10-1. i have seen many a time that when the chinese was competing on table tennis chased point by point from very bad situation and turnaround finally won the game.

franky speaking, i think it's not too easy to create a lot of "real" "poor" situations for the kids to face and train up the mental toughness...using this particular video game will be good...although it is not badminton specific

[bmh]

Another good 'falling blocks' game is Crack Attack, which not only requires quick
reactions but (if you want to get a high score) encourages you to think several moves
ahead to set up a cascade of blocks. There is also has a two player mode (across a LAN) if
you want to be competitive ...

The main site seems to be down at the moment (http://aluminumangel.org/attack/),
but there is a mirror with the Windows version as well as Linux:
http://www.nongnu.org/crack-attack/

My best score in single player mode is 2333 ....