Various Methods of Recovering the Memory

Human memory is the ability to encode, store and retrieve information. It is essential in normal human functioning, but like all bodily functions memory can be compromised. Both long- and short-term memory depend on several areas of the brain, including the prefrontal lobe (short-term memory) and the hippocampus (long-term memory). A person's memory can be damaged by trauma, disease and psychological distress; however, there are several methods to help in recovering memory.

Music Therapy

• Music therapy has been found to improve memory in those suffering from memory loss related to diseases such as Alzheimer's. A 2010 article titled "Music Boosts Memory in Alzheimer's" highlights research conducted by assistant professor of neurology Brandon Ally, who found that Alzheimer's patients recalled lyrics better when they were set to music rather than simply spoken. The researchers hope that music can be used to help Alzheimer's patients remember things necessary for their well being, such as taking medication.

Drawing

• Drawing to recover memory may seem like a strange idea, but researchers have begun to find evidence of its therapeutic benefits. According to a 2009 article, "Helping Children Draw Out Their Traumas," traumatic memories that cannot be put into words may still exist in the memory on a symbolic level, and people can use images to recall such memories. The author of the article states that drawing taps implicit memory, thus allowing children to access sensory memories of traumatic events. Additionally, the drawing of traumatic memories engages children in the process of repair and recovery and reduces their reactivity to the trauma.

Lessons from Neuroscience

• When individuals experience brain damage either due to stroke or another brain injury, they may lose their ability to remember. New research, conducted by scientists from UCLA and Australia, is uncovering how a small protein involved in synaptic transmission in the hippocampus is vital to the encoding and consolidating of memory. The receptor, known as the NMDA receptor, was previously believed to be essential to memory encoding; however, scientists have discovered another set of receptors, AMPA receptors, which can fulfill the same tasks when NMDA receptors are no longer functional. Scientists are optimistic that these findings will lead to new, cognitive-enhancing pharmaceuticals that help people recover memory.

Hypnosis

• Hypnosis involves placing a person in a trance state so that aspects of the mind, such as the subconscious and unconscious, are accessible. According to an article on memory published in "Psychology Today" and written by John Ryder, hypnosis can help people retrieve simple memories (for example, where they placed lost jewelry) as well as more complex memories that have been completely forgotten. Hypnotists often guide clients back to the encoding of a memory, or how it was stored, because as they focus on the elements surrounding the information, they are more likely to recall it.