Founded by Scientists
Four scientists came together to co-found Scientific Learning Corporation
Two of the scientists were working at Rutgers University on behavioral studies, investigating individual differences in the ways children learn to talk and read. The other two scientists were working at the University of California at San Francisco on neuroplasticity, the study of how the brain changes with learning.
Computer-based learning programs developed
The scientists developed learning programs to exercise many of the fundamental perceptual and cognitive skills essential for language and reading. The learning programs included exercises that would individually adapt to each child’s learning level and rate of progress, giving immediate feedback and rewarding correct responses.
Remarkable results from controlled studies at Rutgers University
After only a month of daily training these children’s standardized test language scores improved, on average, by one to three years. These results were published in Science, one of the leading scientific journals in the world. As a result, the University received thousands of phone calls from parents, grandparents, teachers and therapists as well as scientists asking us how they could get access to this computerized training program.
Overwhelming consumer and industry response
The overwhelming consumer and industry response motivated these four scientists to co-found Scientific Learning Corporation, a company dedicated to researching and developing scientifically valid training programs to improve the learning results of children. The programs are customized based on each child’s individual learning needs.
The Scientists Behind BrainSpark
The work of our founding research scientists is at the forefront in the fields of education and neuroscience; brain plasticity; auditory, developmental language, and reading impairments; psychology; behavioral algorithms; and multimedia technology. Our scientists pool together their expertise, imagine what could be, and create solutions that change lives across the U.S. and around the world.
- Michael M.
Merzenich, Ph.D. - Paula A.
Tallal, Ph.D. - William M.
Jenkins, Ph.D. - Steven L.
Miller, Ph.D.
Michael M. Merzenich is widely recognized as one of the world's leading experts in brain plasticity, brain mechanisms, and integrative neuroscience. In 1971, Dr. Merzenich joined the faculty of UCSF and in 1990 he became a full professor in Neuroscience, Physiology, Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology. He is currently Professor Emeritus in the departments of otolaryngology and physiology at UCSF.
Dr. Merzenich also co-founded Posit Science Corporation, whose neuroscience based products address issues related to aging, neurological and psychiatric illness, brain damage and stroke. Dr. Merzenich is presently the Chief Scientific Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Posit.
Dr. Merzenich was elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1999 and a member of the National Institute of Medicine in 2008. Dr. Merzenich holds a BS in General Science from the University of Portland and a PhD in Physiology from Johns Hopkins Unive rsity, with additional training from the University of Wisconsin.
Paula A. Tallal, Ph.D., received her bachelor's degree from NYU and her Ph.D. from Cambridge. As a Board of Governors' professor of neuroscience at Rutgers (the State University of New Jersey) she helped found and currently co-directs the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience. Dr. Tallal is a cognitive neuroscientist and board-certified clinical psychologist who has authored over 200 professional publications and holds several patents. She was selected by the Library of Congress to be the Commentator for the Field of Psychology at its Bicentennial Celebration and earned the Thomas Alva Edison Patent Prize for her work leading to the development of Fast ForWord software. She is also a participant in many scientific advisory boards and governmental committees on developmental language disorders and learning disabilities.
William M. Jenkins, Ph.D., earned his bachelor's degree in psychology, along with a master's degree and Ph.D. in psychobiology, from Florida State University. Dr. Jenkins is an expert in learning-based brain plasticity, behavioral algorithms, and psychophysical methods, as well as an expert in multimedia and Internet technology. He is an author or co-author of more than 100 publications and holds 46 U.S. patents and 12 foreign patents. Dr. Jenkins has also authored or co-authored 13 commercial software products. He was recognized by Discovery Magazine in its annual Awards for Technology Innovations and received the Year 2000 Thomas Alva Edison Patent Award.
Steven L. Miller, Ph.D., earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Bloomsburg University, a master's degree in neuroscience from the University of Hartford, and a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. He received additional training in the neuropsychology of reading at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. Previously he served on the research faculty at the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University. A neuropsychologist with expertise in the assessment and treatment of developmental language and reading impairments, Dr. Miller has extensive experience in organizing clinical studies and conducting longitudinal studies of children and adults with such disabilities.
BrainSpark® Impacts Reading Scores
Following the standard BrainSpark protocol over a seven-week period, students actually improved their scores on the TOPA and GMRT standardized tests. In a BrainSpark product test, students from the Everman Independent School District in Everman, TX made statistically significant improvements in Letter-Sound Knowledge and in Phonological Awareness.
Download research summaryBrainSpark® & BrainPro Are Based on Fast ForWord® Success
The quantity of foundational research on how Fast ForWord software positively impacts the brain during the learning process is significant: Fast ForWord products are mentioned in over 4,000 foundational research studies. The raw data used from these studies is a crucial first step in developing effective, evidence-based reading intervention.
Proven Results
Scientific Learning adheres to the highest standards of research, and we have tested our products on a variety of student populations in every K-12 age group, with excellent results.
More than 100 school districts in the US and Canada have done their own independent evaluation of their student populations for a truly unbiased assessment. Because they have seen such positive results, many are willing to share that information with educators who have yet to try Scientific Learning products.
Scientific Learning has compiled one of the largest databases of measured user results in education today. Click on any of the links below to see those results, as well as the skills tested with specific student populations from different regions of the country and abroad.
Students
Regions
Skills
Other
- Longitudinal Studies
- State Assessments
- Correlation Studies
- Product Reports
- Protocol Studies
- Two Group Studies
- Independent Reviews
BrainSpark® and BrainPro users are also realizing how using the products benefits standardarized test scores.