A cognitive training system provides cognitive skills development using a suite of music and sound based exercises. Visual, auditory, and tactile sensory stimuli are paired in various combinations to build and strengthen cross-modality associations. The system includes a cognitive skills development platform in which training video-games and cartoons are user presented. The platform uses computer implemented systems and methods for training a user with the aim of enhancing processes, skills, and/or development of user intelligence, attention, language skills and brain functioning. The cognitive training system may be utilized by users of varying, or no, musical skills and is presented at a difficulty level corresponding to user characteristics, age, interests and attention span. User characteristics may be assessed in several manners, including retrieval of past performance data on one or more of the exercises.