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.
Related language posts
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 [...]
May 29, 2008at 10:45 am
My girlfriend was recently diagnosed with brain lesions, and experiences numbness and tingling sensation on her leg and arm from time to time, it’s not constant but it’s there. She also sees spots on a momentary basis. I’ve been on her case about eating, but she’s had a lack of appetite, aside from pomegranate juices, is there anything else that you’ve discovered that may have helped in your recovery process?… They have not made a final determination as to what the lesions could be, might be migranes, but I’m trying to push her to eat more, since birds eat more then she does.
Congratulations on your recovery.
May 30, 2008at 10:44 am
@researchinglesions It is very important to know what the cause is. The term brain lesion is a general term. What does the MRI show and what region of the brain is the lesion in? I am not a doctor nor do I pretend to be, but I had a decade plus personal experience with a brain lesion so I know something. I think the first thing is 1) What is going on in the physical brain and is it stable? 2) What is the cause? There are many things that can help and many things that have no affect. I have tried most. But I would need to know how the physical brain has changed (is changing) before I can understand any of the symptoms.
June 22, 2008at 7:48 am
[...] back as I read Lion’s mane mushrooms should have a positive affect on your brain, and I had a brain lesion. Also I am always looking for ways to increase cognitive function as it is good for language [...]
August 4, 2008at 10:20 pm
Hello Everyone,
I am currently dealing with memory issues and logical processing issues. I am going crazy finding doctors, supplements, and anything else that may help me “regenerate my brain.” Although I do not have any concrete proof of this, I am convinced that I may have brain lesions in parts of my brain dedicated to short and long-term memory. If anyone can offer any help or advice, I would greatly appreciate it. My email is jkirpalani@gmail.com.
Thanks,
John
August 5, 2008at 12:12 am
@Johnny, if you have a brain lesion and MRI should show it. I could see the brain lesion on an MRI. If nothing is seen it is sub clinical but does not mean it does not exist. But if you can not see it on an MRI that is a good thing, it means its small. If you think you have problems with cognitive process try to find out why. There could be a 1000 reasons. Diagnosis is important. But generally I found there are no wonder drugs yet to regenerate your brains…yet. But the good news there is something else. They say ‘time heals all wounds’, well its true you know. With a lot of patience and time, and especially if you 1) work with computer games or cognitive drills and 2) have a balanced diet exercise and 3) experiment on your own what works for you - for me Phosphatidylserine (PS) and omega-3 plus, trying lion’s mane, but for perhaps the most innocent effective thing for me that worked was pomegranate. I could not believe it myself. Now all these things do not repair your brain. Cognitive exercises in specific ways will make your brain repair itself, but things being on a nutrient rich ‘brain diet’ might help support the brain during its long repair process.
August 5, 2008at 12:58 am
About computer games for my brain this is what I found out. There are some specific ones like ‘brainbuilder’ or free ones like an old games called “thinkfast” its on the web somewhere, the original thinkfast was very good, but what I recommend the most is, a game you really love. If you love it you will be obsessed with it. For me it is chess. I play online. I can play this for hours a day. If the games are fun you will play it and if you play it and stretch your brain. I do not meet too many chess players with brain problems.