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We all in one way desire to improve our memory – to remember the names of those we meet daily or significant things people say to us or to make good grades.
This happens to be a struggle for many of us; however, scientists are constantly researching new connections between the simple things we do and how to improve our memory capacity. And though memory is a rather complicated process consisting of various brain activities, below we present a simplified version.
SHORT-TERM (WORKING MEMORY) VERSUS LONG-TERM MEMORY
When it comes to recalling, we have two types of memory – short-term or working memory and long-term memory. Working memory is like a brain notepad where information is temporarily held till they become unnecessary. If they are still necessary after they have been used, they are committed to the long-term memory where they are strengthened and recalled.
We make use of our working memory daily and where it is stronger our lives are made so much easier. An adult’s working memory can hold a maximum of about seven items. Anyone’s working memory may be improved though.
THE MEMORY PROCESS
For one to recall any memory, it is first created and then consolidated.
Creating a memory
Signals are sent by our brain in particular patterns associated with whatever events we may be experiencing establishing connections (called synapses) between neurons.
Consolidating the memory
For the created memory to remain in our heads, it has to be committed to our long-term memory. Much of this process takes place while we are asleep. The same pattern of brain activity is recreated by the brain to strengthen the earlier created synapses.
Recalling the memory
This is what is on most of our minds when we think of memory or memory loss. A memory that has been strengthened over time is easier to recall. And each time that same pattern of brain activity is run through, it is reinforced even more.
The fact that memory loss is a normal part of aging doesn’t mean there’s nothing that can be done to slow it down.
WAYS TO IMPROVE ONE’S MEMORY
Below are some of the ways we can keep and improve our memory.
1. Meditate to improve your working memory
Meditation is one of the ways you improve your memory. According to research, in just eight weeks, anyone without any prior experience in mindful meditation can enhance their memory. Coupled with its power to help one concentrate, meditation has also been shown to improve working memory abilities and standardized test scores in just two weeks.
2. Visualize
As crazy as this process may sound to some, associating a thing with a visual image is one of the most effective ways to remember it. With it you can even recall vast volumes of information when taken to the extreme as pictures seem easier to make sense of and remember.
3. Chew Gum
Chewing gum while learning is good. If you need to remember a bit of information for about 30 minutes, it might help. People were found by some studies to do better on both audio and visual memory tasks while learning them when they chewed gum. But if you had something like a quiz suddenly come up, it is advisable not to chew any gum as it was found not to help in any way on such short notice.
Some studies suggest that the fact that oxygen is increased while chewing gum is the reason it aids memory. Increased oxygen helps with focus or alertness and attention – improved concentration. Chewing gum may result in higher heart rate that results in increased flow of oxygen to the brain.
4. Write Things Out
If you want to recall something, write it down in full. Writing is a neuro-psychomotor activity meaning that your hand and your brain are connected so what you write impacts your brain. On the contrary, most people type their way through almost everything because their phones, tablets or computers have capacity for things like names, phone numbers, shopping lists and emails to be saved in them so they have no need to remember anything, at least until they forget their phones at home. Studies reveal that only writing a thing down enables you recall it in ways that touching a keyboard will never.
5. Know When to Turn the Music On and Off
It’s okay to listen to some music before reading something you intend to recall as it helps you remember better. Bu the minute you get to work, music, according to some research is a distraction that will leave you remembering less of what was read in the future. Studying in complete silence according to science pays off, in the long run, though it might seem strange at first.
6. Eat berries for better long-term memory
Some research has told us that eating berries can help stave off or slow down memory decline. Blueberries, in particular, are high in flavonoids that appear to make existing connections in the brain stronger. This makes them beneficial to long-term memory.
This happens to be a struggle for many of us; however, scientists are constantly researching new connections between the simple things we do and how to improve our memory capacity. And though memory is a rather complicated process consisting of various brain activities, below we present a simplified version.
SHORT-TERM (WORKING MEMORY) VERSUS LONG-TERM MEMORY
When it comes to recalling, we have two types of memory – short-term or working memory and long-term memory. Working memory is like a brain notepad where information is temporarily held till they become unnecessary. If they are still necessary after they have been used, they are committed to the long-term memory where they are strengthened and recalled.
We make use of our working memory daily and where it is stronger our lives are made so much easier. An adult’s working memory can hold a maximum of about seven items. Anyone’s working memory may be improved though.
THE MEMORY PROCESS
For one to recall any memory, it is first created and then consolidated.
Creating a memory
Signals are sent by our brain in particular patterns associated with whatever events we may be experiencing establishing connections (called synapses) between neurons.
Consolidating the memory
For the created memory to remain in our heads, it has to be committed to our long-term memory. Much of this process takes place while we are asleep. The same pattern of brain activity is recreated by the brain to strengthen the earlier created synapses.
Recalling the memory
This is what is on most of our minds when we think of memory or memory loss. A memory that has been strengthened over time is easier to recall. And each time that same pattern of brain activity is run through, it is reinforced even more.
The fact that memory loss is a normal part of aging doesn’t mean there’s nothing that can be done to slow it down.
WAYS TO IMPROVE ONE’S MEMORY
Below are some of the ways we can keep and improve our memory.
1. Meditate to improve your working memory
Meditation is one of the ways you improve your memory. According to research, in just eight weeks, anyone without any prior experience in mindful meditation can enhance their memory. Coupled with its power to help one concentrate, meditation has also been shown to improve working memory abilities and standardized test scores in just two weeks.
2. Visualize
As crazy as this process may sound to some, associating a thing with a visual image is one of the most effective ways to remember it. With it you can even recall vast volumes of information when taken to the extreme as pictures seem easier to make sense of and remember.
3. Chew Gum
Chewing gum while learning is good. If you need to remember a bit of information for about 30 minutes, it might help. People were found by some studies to do better on both audio and visual memory tasks while learning them when they chewed gum. But if you had something like a quiz suddenly come up, it is advisable not to chew any gum as it was found not to help in any way on such short notice.
Some studies suggest that the fact that oxygen is increased while chewing gum is the reason it aids memory. Increased oxygen helps with focus or alertness and attention – improved concentration. Chewing gum may result in higher heart rate that results in increased flow of oxygen to the brain.
4. Write Things Out
If you want to recall something, write it down in full. Writing is a neuro-psychomotor activity meaning that your hand and your brain are connected so what you write impacts your brain. On the contrary, most people type their way through almost everything because their phones, tablets or computers have capacity for things like names, phone numbers, shopping lists and emails to be saved in them so they have no need to remember anything, at least until they forget their phones at home. Studies reveal that only writing a thing down enables you recall it in ways that touching a keyboard will never.
5. Know When to Turn the Music On and Off
It’s okay to listen to some music before reading something you intend to recall as it helps you remember better. Bu the minute you get to work, music, according to some research is a distraction that will leave you remembering less of what was read in the future. Studying in complete silence according to science pays off, in the long run, though it might seem strange at first.
6. Eat berries for better long-term memory
Some research has told us that eating berries can help stave off or slow down memory decline. Blueberries, in particular, are high in flavonoids that appear to make existing connections in the brain stronger. This makes them beneficial to long-term memory.
