LEVEL UP

Exercise your brain with these apps

Brain-training apps such as the ones below make playtime productive, whether it’s sharpening your synapses with stimulating puzzles or expanding your vocabulary with engaging word games. The best part is you can boost your smarts while packed into a train carriage or on the sofa after a long day, whatever suits you.

Impulse

Give your brain a daily workout with Impulse.

Impulse’s brain-training games are seriously tough: complex puzzles to test your spatial awareness, fiendish memory games to confound you, quick-fire rounds that require quick-fire reflexes, and mental maths that will make you miss your calculator. The tougher they get, the more fun you’ll have – there’s nothing more satisfying than watching yourself ascend the levels and begin to feel sharper and more switched on.

Lumosity

Want some serious challenges based on serious science? Lumosity’s clever games are rooted in research by top brains from global universities. Its puzzles are tricky and they only get harder as you become better. More than 40 challenges will test your memory, speed, logic, maths skills, vocabulary and problem-solving. Kick off your training with a 10-minute test that will set your level and practise regularly to sharpen your mind.

Elevate

Get a personalised programme of brain-training games in Elevate.

If you want to brush up on your comprehension skills, rediscover your aptitude for mental maths or improve your focus at work, Elevate can help. It delivers a personalised brain-training experience, with a daily programme of games to hone your cognitive skills. There’s no chance of getting bored: games become more difficult with time. Stay on track by maintaining a streak and view your weekly report to keep on top of your progress.

Peak

You don’t need long to train your brain: Peak’s bite-size sessions are designed to give your grey matter a workout in the time it takes to make a cup of coffee. From matching tiles at rapid speed, to complete-the-word brain-teasers and number puzzles, Peak games are fast and unpredictable. As you go, you’ll get detailed reports that break down your skills and areas for improvement.