neureka- Brain Surveys, Quizze

Gillan Lab

About this app

Neureka is a collection of brain games, quizzes, surveys and challenges that allows you to solve cognitive puzzles and help in cutting edge scientific research. 450 million people suffer from mental health conditions worldwide and a further 50 million are currently living with dementia.Using gamified cognitive tests the Neureka application aims to allow you the user to contribute and help in the global fight against dementia.

The Neureka App has the following fun games and challenges to play

Risk Factors - Play this fun set of games against the clock and complete questionnaires to help us understand how to prevent dementia!

The Science
There is a growing body of knowledge that up to 30% of cases of dementia could be prevented through what are called “modifiable risk factors”. We want to understand why this is the case - to unpack the complex relationship that exists between mind, body and environment so we can figure out new ways to fight dementia.

In this challenge you will play three fun games that require different types of thinking (cognitive) processes. Prior scientific research has suggested changes in these cognitive processes may predict people’s risk of dementia years before diagnosis.

By completing this challenge you will help us understand how potential risk factors might confer risk for developing dementia and in doing so, pave the way towards new and effective interventions that can keep us all healthy for longer!



Multi-Mood - Log your moods over 8 weeks and help detect changes in your mood!

The Science
Major depression affects over 300 million people worldwide at any given moment. Approximately 15% of all people will develop depression at some point in their lives.

In MultiMood, you rate your mood twice a day over 8-weeks and complete a depression questionnaire once a week. Research has shown that distinct changes in mood occur before entering a period of depression. Through MultiMood, you’ll be helping us understand how interactions between different aspects of mood contribute to the risk of experiencing a depressive episode.


Memory Match - Play this memory matching game where you identify shapes and numbers against the clock !

The Science
Research suggests that difficulties linking different forms of memory together (e.g. shapes and colours) is impaired very early on in dementia (potentially 10 years before diagnosis). It is thought that this is because the parts of the brain that link these memories together is one of the earliest to be affected by the disease


Star Racer - Collect points against the clock by selecting the numbers and letters as fast as you can !

The Science
This game assesses aspects of your mental flexibility (your ability to switch between numbers and letters) and your ability to maintain two trains of thought simultaneously (keeping track of where you are in the number & letter sequences). These abilities are known as ’executive functions’ and prior research has repeatedly shown that they decline 2-3 years prior to dementia diagnosis.


Cannon Blast - Shoot the cannon and collect diamonds as you move through levels collecting as many points as you can!

The Science
Research suggests that the ability to anticipate the consequences of future decisions and make optimal choices based on them (known as model-based planning) is impaired in older adults. It is thought that one reason for age-related decline in this type of decision making is atrophy of an area of the brain called the hippocampus. Dementia results in early and severe hippocampal atrophy and therefore the decision-making abilities tracked by Canon Blast may be sensitive to early signs of dementia.

Download Neureka today, play fun games and challenges and help us fight dementia and mental illness.

Ratings and reviews

I'm also having done issues accessing all the functions of the app because of "disappearing" begin or continue buttons. I've tried sending an enquiry via the neureka.ie website but haven't had any response back. Also the ability to re-start the "pattern wise" section would be good. Whilst I chose 1 option, I decided it wasn't what I thought and I wanted to change my option but can't. Now I'm unable to go back into this section anyway, because of the "disappearing" continue button.

Having difficulty opening all the tests. The User Interface on my phone doesn't fit my screen size meaning some of the 'Start Game's buttons do not show and I cannot scroll. They're is also occasional lag. Can an update fix this. I have not uninstalled as I think there is potential here. Would still recommend trying it in case it is just my phone that has difficulties. (SONY user)

I love being able to learn things and play games while also aiding in research. That's wonderful. Though after questionares, i think having an optional space to explain your answers would be very helpful. Some of your "participants" may have more complex mental health and experiences than others and the answers themselves dont convey that, or may come off as confusing without some insight. But make it optional for those who dont see it necessary. I would really like that feature.