Most of your brain is dedicated to movement.
That's why coordination training works the brain, not just the body.
The Problem with Screen-Based Brain Games
In 2016, Lumosity settled with the Federal Trade Commission for $2 million over claims that their games could help users perform better at work or school and delay cognitive decline.
The core problem is that skills don't transfer to real life:
You get better at the specific games you practice, but evidence that this improves everyday cognitive performance is mixed and often weak.
Getting better at matching colored tiles makes you better at matching colored tiles.
Whether it makes you sharper at work is another question, and one the research hasn't answered.
What the Research Actually Shows
A major 2016 review found big improvements on the trained tasks, smaller improvements on related tasks, and little evidence for real-world benefits.
A Stanford-hosted consensus statement went further:
There's no compelling evidence that commercial brain games reduce or reverse cognitive decline.
But research on physical training tells a different story:
- Dual-task training (doing two things at once) improves balance, walking, and some cognitive measures
- Reaction time exercises with physical movement can improve response speed
- Hand-eye coordination drills engage multiple brain systems at the same time
- Balance challenges force real-time adaptation
Why Physical Training is Different
The cerebellum is a small region that contains over half the brain's neurons.
It controls coordination and motor learning, but also contributes to attention and cognition.
When you train coordination, you're:
- Using multiple brain regions at once
Movement, timing, and planning systems work together - Building skills that require adaptation
Physical skills force the brain to create and refine neural pathways - Training under time pressure
Catching a ball requires fast processing in ways that sitting still doesn't
The Dual-Task Advantage
When you catch a ball while counting backwards, you're forcing your brain to:
- Process visual information in real time
- Calculate trajectory and timing
- Execute a coordinated motor response
- Maintain working memory
- Divide attention across tasks
Research suggests dual-task training can improve performance in real-world situations, particularly for mobility and fall prevention in older adults.
The cognitive benefits are less clear, but the brain engagement is richer than tapping a screen.
What This Means for You
You don't need expensive apps or complicated equipment.
Train your brain with hand drills. Level up with a tennis ball.
The key is progressive challenge:
- Start with simple catches
- Add movement (walk while catching)
- Add cognitive load (count, spell, recite)
- Increase speed and complexity over time
Real results require consistent practice and real challenge.
But unlike passive puzzles, coordination training engages your brain through the body it evolved to control.
Next read: Want to understand why movement and thinking are so deeply connected? What Is Cognitive Function? The Surprising Link to Physical Movement
BounceIQ provides structured drills that progress with you, tracking your improvement in reaction time, coordination, and dual-task performance.