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Human Memory Improvement

According to "Human Memory," an article written by NASA, the simplest way to depict human memory is to "describe human memory as a set of stores which are 'places' to put information, plus a set of processes that act on the stores." Following that logic, they state that there are three stores: sensory information store, short-term and long-term stores. From there, we encode information, maintain it or retrieve it. The trick is to figure out how to utilize our "stores" at the highest level possible, in other words, how do we improve our memory?

  1. Basics

    • Pyschology4All.com asserts that there are five basic memory methods: chunking, rhyming, bridging, recital and semi-trying. Chunking is best known as lumping items all together. For example, if you have to remember a 10-digit phone number, try to "chunk" the numbers into groups of threes instead of trying to recall the long list of numbers. Rhyming is self-explanatory. Bridging pulls together information by bridging two or more ideas with a common theme. Recital means exactly that---to recite the information until it can be recalled easily. For example, on 10 lines of a piece of paper write down three dates needed for a history test. Recite these dates aloud 10 times, then repeat again only in your head. The dates should be stored. The last method is semi-trying, essentially a method of last resort. If you can't recall the history dates you need, think of something else temporarily. The history dates will return to you when you stop "trying" so hard to remember them.

    Games

    • As you get older, your memory tends to fade slightly. People as young as fifty are told to try an assortment of memory games to boost their skills; however there are no studies to suggest that people all ages should not follow suit. Brain teasers, math puzzles, crossword puzzles, sudoku and daily vocabulary calendars are all aimed at increasing your memory by various means. Online gaming centers, such as Luminosity, are another option to train your brain.

    Brain Food

    • Foods are not just for sustenance, but also perform specific functions in our bodies. Per EveryDayHealth.com, peanuts, walnuts and olives reduce the risk of Alzheimer's. Fish such as trout, salmon and mackerel help improve memory. Bananas, apples, strawberries, blueberries, oranges and grapes protect brain cells from damage. And lastly, corn, onions, broccoli, spinach and asparagus aid against deteriorating memory.

      In the end it is best to view your memory as you do your body---feed it right, exercise it and work with it daily to get the best results possible.

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