Discover BrainHQ: Free Brain Training for HMCPL Patrons

We are thrilled to announce that a new resource is available at the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library! As of this August, the library will be offering the online brain training platform BrainHQ to patrons. This resource is free to all HMCPL cardholders thanks to the generous support from donors Dr. Noel and Betsy Estopinal.

But just what is BrainHQ, and what makes it such an important program?

“BrainHQ is an interactive brain training program built by Posit Science, and it is based on 30 years of research in brain science and neuroplasticity,” says Annie Phillips, HMCPL’s Digital Services Manager. “The idea is that just as the right sort of exercise is good for physical health, the right kind of exercise benefits brain health and enhances cognitive performance.”

BrainHQ focuses on helping users of all backgrounds and ages improve their cognitive abilities through the fun games and challenging exercises on their website. These games are designed to gradually stretch and challenge users, allowing them to train their focus, navigation, brain speed, and much more.

“Once an HMCPL patron creates a free BrainHQ account, they then take a short assessment that measures brain reserve and identifies areas to strengthen with the exercises. Exercises are grouped into Memory, Attention, Brain Speed, People Skills, Intelligence, and Navigation. Users can set goals and track progress within their account,” explains Phillips.

Individuals who consistently train with BrainHQ have seen improvements in their everyday experiences, including self-confidence, mood, and control, plus increased abilities in common activities such as balance, driving, and everyday cognition. This is not an offering for just one type of individual, but one that can benefit many of our patrons – and that is what makes it such exciting news for us.

BrainHQ is designed by professionals to be used by anyone, for many purposes. Users can find many exercises available to suit their own personal needs and goals, and the platform will adapt the difficulty of the games to match each user’s performance. Our patrons will be able to track their progress and see how other users in their demographic scored, helping them to set goals and train their brain.

“HMCPL is excited to offer BrainHQ to our community. We are fortunate with generous donor support to be able to connect our community with this unique brain health program, and I hope library users will find it to be a beneficial addition to our library services,” said Connie Chow, Executive Director of the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library.

Whether you are a professional wanting to improve cognitive functioning, or a senior seeking to strengthen focus and memory, we are thrilled to be offering this new library resource.

To learn more about BrainHQ, you can visit hmcpl.org/databases/brainhq