When I mention the words "brain training" more often than not I get a puzzled look. Despite all the hoopla in certain circles, brain training hasn't get hit the big time. This makes it a great gift idea for that "difficult to buy for" loved one in your life.

Do you know someone who loves puzzles, craves mental stimulation, and likes a challenge? Good brain training software not only meets these requirements but can also improve a person's ability to solve those puzzles and meet those mental challenges, making it doubly rewarding.

On the other hand, your loved one may be on the other side of the cranial fence, so to speak, not getting much mental stimulation and beginning to suffer from the inevitable mental decline that sets in when we reach our early forties. Buying brain training software for someone in this category can be a little trickier, a bit like buying an exercise bike for someone with a few extra pounds to shed. Will the recipient be truly grateful for our loving gesture, or will he secretly wonder how much the bike will fetch on eBay. Nevertheless, for someone itching to shed those mental pounds, brain training software is just the ticket.

Although it's not yet a household phenomenon, brain training has established the scientific credentials to demonstrate that it is here to stay. Week after week news studies show that the brain isn't just a fixed gray lump, but something that can grow and change with the right stimulation. Test scores, mental health, intelligence - all respond to the right kind of mental exercise making brain training software not just a novel gift but an adaptable one, too.

But before you scurry off to put a few copies in your shopping cart, we must address the thornier question of which brain training program to buy. As with so many things in this world, choosing the right brain fitness software isn't so easy.

In any emerging industry there will be sharp differences between the effectiveness and price of the products available. Many brain training programs have been put together with little scientific foundation and less proof of efficacy. Some have excellent pedigree but cost several hundred dollars. And then there are the hidden gems that deliver great things but can be had for pennies on the dollar. How do we know what to buy?

Here are a few things to look out for when researching products:

1. What specific scientific study is the training based on or measured by, and what were the findings of those studies? (Vague, unspecific claims about the training are a red flag.)

2. Is this really training software or just a set of games? Unless the training demands considerable concentration and provide considerable reward it's not going to be of any particular use in generating new cell growth and plastic change. If it does, then it should also be training the core cognitive functions of memory, processing speed, and left-brain, right-brain multi-tasking. This should all be clearly stated by the vendor.

3. Does the vendor recommend a particular training schedule and does the time commitment seem reasonable to fit into the gift recipient's schedule?

Lastly, a comment about cost. In such a new field the old adage "you get what you pay for" simply doesn't apply. Here again it's important to look at what the vendor has to say, if anything, about its pricing. If a product is expensive, why is it expensive? Perhaps the company has simply set a high price because it's carrying a lot of capital investment, or paying a large staff of 'executives.' In these lean times it's worth looking for a product that is both effective and affordable.

One thing is sure, with a little research we can end up with a truly novel and satisfying gift that will be enjoyed and valued for years to come.