How computer games helped repair my brain lesion
My brain lesion
I had a brain lesion about 16 years ago. The word lesion is really a general medical jargon word. What I had was basically bleeding in the brain from capillary telangiectasia or a cavernous malformation. The result was I had memory and brain processing problems. I still functioned at a rather high cognitive level, however, in addition to horrible daily pain, I had trouble with my working memory and other things. The cause of this brain lesion was never known, but I suspect it was something like a birthmark, something incidental that became symptomatic though a series of of events. The lesion was serious because of it was located in my brain.
Brain rehabilitation
I followed a standard rehabilitation of my memory, working at a local university that did studies on brain lesions and brain rehabilitation. These were cognitive drills and exercises with students who studied my progress. These helped, and were precise and targeted; however, I made a huge breakthrough when I started to play computer games. The real world was too complex for me, at that juncture. Too many variables. However, computer games were a place I could do similar cognitive drills like I did at the university, however, on the computer in the santuary of my flat.
Brain rehabilitation software
Actually I first I started with software that was specific to memory improvement and brain rehabilitation. But latter I realized that the brain functions as a whole. When I started to play complex games, even which could be said to focus on other specific skills than I needed, my brain was stimulated. My brain improved as a whole. Thus was the start of the ’computer game obsession time’ in my life. I played everything until the wee hours of the morning, from memory and puzzle games, to quick reflex and strategy games. I remember when I beat the game Civilization at the highest level, something that few people can do, I felt I could conquer the world and my brain rehabilitation was over.
Computer games and my brain
Computer games and computers are wonderful tools for your brain to interact with. Computer games are eons more complex and stimulating, than the simple rehabilitation lessons I had at the University, minus the pretty students testing me. The designers of computer games designed the games to be plugged into the pleasure centers of your brain.
My testament to the benefit of computer games on your brain
I am convinced anyone can change and improve their brain, whether you have had a brain lesion or not. The brain by design is malleable. I do not have to read a study about it out wait until some PhD or expert tells me so, I have experienced it for myself.
From computer games to language learning software
After my conquest of computer games as manifest by my repeated victories on the game Civilization and other similar games, I moved to more normal and perhaps useful pursuits for brain stimulation like learning languages. It was from my progress with computer games, I got inspiration to create a computer software program for learning languages. Instead of sitting in a classroom or reading a book, you could interact in a multimedia computer format and learn languages.
Brain lesion
I am no expert on brain lesions, however, if anyone is in a similar situation, you can write me and I can tell you what helped for me. Now I am fine, perhaps better than I ever have been. Thank God.
Tags: brain, brain lesion, brain rehabilitation, capillary telangiectasia, cavernous malformation, computer games, language, language-learning, memory, rehabilitate, rehabilitation, stroke
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February 26, 2008at 5:31 am
Hi. My husband is going through a simliar ordeal–he has an undiagnosed neurological disorder which is making reading, emailing, cognition processing difficult that include lesions on the brain. He’s doing IM therapy but it’s going really slowly. I feel so bad about this for him…can you please email me the name of the games you used? You really are okay now? He really needs some encouragement. Thank you!
February 26, 2008at 5:54 am
Yes I am really ok. I function at a high cogitive level. If anyone does not believe me I can 1) Show you the countless MRIs of my lesions. … then 2) if you do not believe that games helped my brain, I can play you in chess, I can most likely beat you easy in a few minutes (on pogo my nick is Bostonmark123 I am at an expert rating). Unless your are pro I will win most of the time. And even if you are a pro I stand a chance. And if you still do not believe me that my brain is ok, I can speak Polish with you, a hard language to learn, which I learned as an adult, after my lesion. I make this site. http://www.polishgrammar.com also this site http://www.mp3languagelearning.com How many people do you know taught themselves to speak Polish, or any other hard language like Arabic or Russian?
The main thing is this: Do not worry. Healing is never linear, rather its up and down in waves. It took me time. It was very frustrating. Many times I wanted to give up. But for me I said this: If this is what God has given me, this is what God has given me. “Thy will be done”. This is how I will glorify God with whatever God gives me. Think of the story of Job in the bible.
The word ’should’. There are no ’shoulds’. Should is a bad word. Should is like Sh-t. Sorry. Do the things you are totally into. Not things that you should do. Do not listen to the pessimists or experts, they will only bring you down. They will tell you about limits rather than motivate you. Look, I am not a supernaturalist, and I do not believe in anything that violates the laws of nature, I do not believe in, anything that is not in mainstream science, but trust me, with a little faith and patience you can one day say to the mountain, “move” and it will move.
Also science changes so much, in scientific revolutions, rather than increments, so you never know what is around the corner. So do not give up.
I love computer games. So I was able to plug into computer games. The reason computer games are good for your brain is they merge rehab and normal life. You play games not to improve brain function, but just for fun, but your brain gets better anyway. You do not define yourself as helping your brain, rather you are playing for fun. Whilst rehab is all about reminding yourself your brain needs help.
I played for 100s of hours a month. I was even without work for a while but played all day, maybe sending 1 or 2 CVs out at lunch. I played chess on pogo .com for sometimes 10 hours a day. But you can find other games on pogo you might like. I played Civilization II as I love this type of world strategy game until I beat it at every level. But if you are not into it, do not play it. Rehab is boring and is filled with shoulds. Games are fun. Games you do not think about your brain problem. Rehab you do. You can measure your level and advancement objectively and as long as your brain is engaged your brain functions as a whole and will improve. Fact. It will build your confidence and pump your neurons. If your problem is reading and writing you might want to find something that is more semantic. But these are the games I played to improve my brain.
Pogo games
Civilization
Tetris
Professor Fizzwizzle (It is great)
Thinkfast (no longer arround)
Chess (People will say its develops only one part of your brain I disagree. Its the king of all games, it uses memory, logic, social skills etc)
Chating is great for writing and reading. I even started to chat in Polish when I was learning Polish.
This is a start , I need to create a better list. Basically you have to love the game or it becomes a should.
Main thing, is do not worry and think about what I said about the mountain.
March 28, 2008at 5:49 pm
Thank you - I am a 34 model who has just been told (3 months ago) that I have lesions on my brain - Symptoms are Still neck / burn on spine, so if you have guessed Probable MS, then you were right! I have been in a rut for 3 months…simply depressed, However I am also an 80’s girl who LOVES Tetris so thank you for sharing your story! I have been telling myself that there has to be away to shrink these things or get rid of them.
THANK YOU!
March 29, 2008at 7:26 am
@Karen, Just remember that when it comes to neurology, breakthoughs are coming at leaps and bounds, so do not lose hope. There is always hope. The people I know with MS got benefit from various DHA - essential oils, but I think you know this, and exercises with the brain and body. I am a pomegranate fanatic, I think there is some sort of super anti oxidant in fresh pomegranate juice that helps the brain. http://www.claritaslux.com/blog/2007/08/08/pomegranate-juice-beneficial-boosting-memory/
About being depressed well, I just said, if this is what God wants of me, this is what God wants. Kinda fatalistic but I believe like the story of Job that many times we are tested and tried only to have a better life latter. Which I do.
Regarding being a 80s person, me too, ok maybe 70s a little too, it was a great time. Thanks for your comments regarding how computer games helped repair my brain lesion.
April 19, 2008at 9:37 am
In 2005 I released a fun little puzzle game called Ping Ball. It took me 9 months of spare time to write, and I did all the coding down to the hand tuned assembler code for the blitters, and even render the sprites myself with Povray. It was the first …I felt not only playing but creating the game helped.
May 5, 2008at 10:30 am
[…] have written about my brain lesion and how it took a long time to get back my cognitive function. One of my most recent discoveries […]