Brain memory loss is considered to have been caused by a number of factors: physical trauma such as an brain injury or concussion, wear and tear due to age, and emotional trauma, such as a life threatening experience. The brain is the command center for all mental data, and also manages the execution of every physical and mental activity on a perpetual basis. Also, memory by definition is simply a vast warehouse of everything an individual has ever seen or been involved in. The actual physical process taking place in the brain is a matter of interpreting various experiences and then filing them in the mind for future reference.

Causes of Memory Loss In The Brain

The brain is called on to fulfill a very complicated process of sifting through a myriad of perceptions and dealing with them immediately before moving on to further tasks. The picture of the brain would tend to emerge as a massive computer humming away on a perpetual basis. But the computer can deteriorate over time just like any other machine, and getting older is a major cause of brain memory loss. Yes, there are many other reasons for the deterioration of the brain and memory loss, including physical trauma and substance above. But age is by far the biggest reason for brain deterioration and loss of memory. Age can also be a cause of serious illness as an addition to memory loss, as in an insidious disease such as Alzheimer’s, which has life threatening ramifications.

Long term memory is defined as happenings from long ago, and short term memory is generally considered to encompass experiences loosely from the immediate time period, and can include anything that happened just yesterday all the way back to several years ago, depending on the individual. Memory also includes various other brain functions, such as motor skills and learned responses to stimuli. These activities cannot be performed without the ability to focus and concentrate. In effect, the brain needs periodic maintenance, just like any machine. Occasionally the brain will experience operational breakdowns, and this can result in memory loss and difficulty with short term memory lapses, which can be very alarming to someone when they occur.

How To Prevent Brain Memory Loss

Typically, you may lose your car keys, or forget things that you normally would not, such as a friend’s phone number, or you might not even recognize someone who is ordinarily very familiar to you. As we get older, these types of problems can happen to all of us, and the best way to preserve the efficiency and accuracy of the brain is to undertake new challenges which will force you to stay sharp, such as crossword puzzles or complex math exercises. Memory games are a terrific way to exercise the mind in the same manner as a fitness program serves to tone the body. Regular brain exercises and mental gymnastics by engaging in memory games is a very productive and proven method for heading off memory loss.  You can also consider adding some memory vitamins to your regimen to further improve your mental functions.

No comments »

As you get older, you have to keep your brain as fit as your body. Why is this? Aging doesn’t just have an effect on our muscles, but our minds as well. Over time, our brain’s ability to fight off the damage that aging does to our brains, which is known as the cognitive reserve – starts to fall off over time. Focusing and being able to perform actions can get harder as a result. Fortunately, you can make your brain stronger in much the same way as you strengthen your muscles – brain exercises are just like muscle exercises in that the more often you make use of them, the better your mental health will be.

Alzheimer’s Brain Exercises for Adults

If you can maintain the cognitive reserve of your brain, you can hold on to higher brain functions. With the help of these brain exercises, you can guard your memory and prevent neurological alterations that are caused by the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and other signs of aging. There was a recent study performed on retired Catholic nuns that revealed that, despite the fact that they didn’t show any symptoms of the disease, they still had the telltale lesions of the brain. However, since they devoted their lives to good diet, strong connections to their peers, and meditation, their cognitive reserve was in much better shape than most Alzheimer’s patients. Even though they had Alzheimer’s disease, their ability to function did not vary in the slightest.

New Brain Research for Alzheimer’s Disease

According to new research, you can make the appropriate alterations to your lifestyle and try to keep your brain entertained, thereby making you less susceptible to age-related brainpower loss. Until recently, doctors didn’t think you could reverse such a condition. However, researchers under the supervision of Dr. Bender held a six month study in which they introduced Alzheimer’s patients to drug therapy, healthier diets, improved meditation and study, and physical exercise. Bender has determined that the brain has enough elasticity to actually improve given the appropriate amount of effort. You can even find normal brain cells among the most severe Alzheimer’s patients, and this research indicates that new neural connections can be created.

It Takes A Conscious Effort To Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

According to researchers, you can use several methods to get your cognitive reserve in good shape in a most effective way. Exercising your neurons every day and keeping your body in good condition through diet and exercise can help. When you want to keep your brain healthy, lower your cholesterol, take in more antioxidants, and cut down the fat. Don’t just eat better; guard your brain tissue by undergoing a regular exercise regimen. It’s also important to always be stimulated and never be bored. Always strive to learn every single day; as you start to let boredom and disinterest set in, you’ll begin to exacerbate the problem. Brains can start to atrophy if they don’t do a lot of work. As a result, you might want to limit the amount of sedentary activity you do each day, as that can affect the health of your brain as well.

No comments »

Many people understand the impact that diet can have on your mental health and overall physical health. The foods that you put into your system can have a positive or negative effect on your well being. Food contains the vital components that you must have to maintain a high quality of life on a day to day basis. Specifically, there are memory vitamins which will improve brain productivity, and they can be obtained either through regular foods or though vitamin supplementation. The following are the most important nutritional items which will improve your quality of life and enable you to think and function more clearly if they are included in your diet consistently. Antioxidants are generally regarded as being at the top of the list.

What Memory Vitamins Do

Certainly you are aware of the damage that toxins can do to the system. Antioxidants provide protection for the body by guarding us against these destructive agents, all of which can promote illness. Antioxidants stop these negative agents from accessing the brain area. In other words, they enable you to think more clearly and improve your retentive powers. In addition, they help to head off various circulatory problems. Efficient circulation of your blood indicates that the brain in receiving an ample amount of oxygen. The primary foods from which to obtain antioxidants are fruits and vegetables. Another vital nutritional item is Omega-3s.

Memory Vitamins To Prevent Memory Loss

The primary food sources for this essential fatty acid are fish and nuts. Essential fatty acids are critical to efficient communication with the brain. Women in the throes of pregnancy require extra feedings of Omega-3 to ensure that the infant’s brain is nourished properly. An additional piece of the puzzle is Ginkgo Biloba. This nutritional item is well known as a superior memory booster. Researchers have demonstrated that the use of ginkgo biloba on a regular basis enhances circulation to the brain. It also destroys dangerous toxins in the body. It is also useful in slowing the insidious effects of Alzheimer’s disease if implemented in the early stages; it is important to try to prevent Alzheimer’s disease in every way that you can before its onset.

Examples of Memory Vitamins and Brain Foods

Similarly, another component of good mental health is Folic Acid. You can readily secure large quantities of this nutrient from any leafy green vegetable. If you do not consume a sufficient amount of green vegetables, grains and eggs are also beneficial foods from which to obtain folic acid. Folic acid is particularly important in the early stages of brain formation. This explains the commonly heard suggestion that it should be eaten during pregnancy. It is vital to healthy tissue formation and the development of sufficient red blood cells. And then we have the B Vitamins. These promote general health and well being.

They control blood sugar and the development of red blood cells, in addition to supplying the system with surplus energy. Proteins such as meat and eggs readily supply an abundant amount of the vital B vitamins. A cautionary note would be to advise an individual presently being treated with any type of prescription medicine to clear the use of these supplements with a medical professional. Even though these foods are all natural, there is the possibility of a reaction when combined with certain medicines.

Eating Healthy for All Memory Vitamins

Eating a quality diet is the optimal and desirable way to obtain all of these beneficial ingredients. However, in the real world, almost everyone can name a specific food that they detest and refuse to eat, and this dietary void can be satisfied with vitamin supplements for memory loss. The essential vitamins mentioned in this article can assist your thinking process, take your memory up a notch, and allow greater focus in your everyday activities.  There are many more tricks and tips to improve memory out there, just do some research and you’ll find some that are effective.

No comments »

1. To experience deep inner peace.

2. To experience a greater sense of wellbeing.

3. To increase the amount of grey-matter in your brain.

4. To increase the amount of activity in your brain.

5. To take control of your thoughts.

6. To take control of your life.

7. For spiritual purposes.

8. To develop greater compassion for others.

9. To create a more positive outlook on life.

10. To develop greater emotional understanding.

11. To shift your perception.

12. To raise your current level of conscious awareness.

13. To deeply relax your mind and body.

14. To consciously control your brainwave patterns.

15. To increase your I.Q. score and level of intelligence.

16. To increase your overall energy levels.

17. To increase your levels of concentration.

18. To increase your levels of inner motivation.

19. To help build up a stronger immune system.

20. To make your life easier.

21. To learn more about yourself.

22. For self-mastery purposes.

23. To consciously control unconscious body functions.

24. To enhance your religious practices.

25. To “awaken” your mind.

26. To consciously control your reality.

27. To lower levels of destructive stress hormones.

28. To improve the condition of a mood disorder.

29. To “bliss out” and experience inner euphoria.

30. To make you happier than you already are.

31. To quiet your mind.

32. To strengthen your heart.

33. To improve blood flow to the brain.

34. To build new neural connections in the brain.

35. To increase your overall vitality.

36. To help manifest your desires.

37. To decrease chronic pain.

38. To try something new.

39. Because your friends meditate.

40. Because it sounds like an interesting practice.

41. To give the brain a quick “refresh.”

42. To use as an alternative to taking a nap.

43. Because there are so many different types of meditation.

44. To transcend space and time.

45. As an escape from the physical world.

46. Because it feels soothing [to your body and brain].

47. To use as a healthy alternative to watching T.V.

48. For healing past traumas.

49. To improve your memory.

50. To connect with the universe.

51. To enhance your ability to visualize.

52. To develop greater empathy.

53. To connect with God or the Source.

54. To learn about and guide your ego.

55. To untap the full potential of your soul.

56. To develop a more creative mind.

57. For personal growth or personal development purposes.

58. Because successful people meditate.

59. To get a “natural high” off of your own brain chemistry.

60. Because you want to change.

61. To help create peace on Earth.

62. To develop high-levels of brainwave coherence.

63. To develop high-levels of heart wave coherence.

64. To spend time with just yourself.

65. To improve your negative behavior patterns.

66. To improve your quality of thinking and clarity.

67. To help develop a warmer, more positive personality.

68. To improve relationships and your social life.

69. To feel relaxed in any environment.

70. It is the single most effective relaxation technique.

71. To reduce or overcome insomnia.

72. To help you kick a drug habit.

73. To help you kick an alcohol habit.

74. To help you boost your brain power.

75. To help you ditch an addicting habit.

76. To experience enlightenment.

77. To reach a state of nirvana.

78. To improve your sex-life and libido.

79. To lower your blood-pressure.

80. To help prevent devastating diseases.

81. To help prevent brain-aging.

82. To help you discover your purpose.

83. To replace suffering with understanding.

84. To develop a state of detachment.

85. To aid in the production of vital neurotransmitters like “serotonin.”

86. To increase the production of healthy hormones.

87. To slow physical deterioration and the process of aging.

88. To overcome limiting beliefs.

89. To increase work-productivity.

90. To develop a more open mind.

91. To set a healthy example for others to follow.

92. Meditation is an easy practice to learn.

93. Meditation gives you something to do when you are bored.

94. To clear past negative karma and bring forth positivity.

95. To cleanse your energy centers a.k.a. “chakras.”

96. To develop a greater mind-body connection.

97. To help replace aggressiveness with assertiveness.

98. To curb anger (and other negative emotions) and prevent fighting.

99. To help improve any area of your life.

100. Because there are so many positive side-effects associated with with meditation.

Bonus: 101. [Insert your reason(s) here] – Feel free to post your reason in the comments section.

No comments »

Note: If you enjoy this article, consider reading 5 Ways Of Enhancing Brain Power [Part 1].

No matter how high your current I.Q. or level of education, there are still tons of great things that you can do to boost your brain power!  Boosting your brain power doesn’t always deal with reading books or hanging out with scientists on a daily basis!  There are many great methods that you can use to improve your brain’s overall level of cognition.  The following 5 methods included in this article will definitely help you flex your neural connections a bit and allow you to build a better brain!  In follow-up to the first part of this series (posted above), are 5 more great ways of enhancing your brain power!

1. Take Control Of Your Thoughts (Neurofeedback)

Taking control of your thought-patterns is much easier than most people imagine!

Though the concept of Neurofeedback sounds slightly New-Agey, there is a method of thought-control that you can use to actually boost your brain power! Most people that use it don’t have any idea as to how it works, but definitely are able to testify that it is highly-effective. It is not exactly a method of relaxation or meditation, though you can use it to help yourself relax! What is it? It’s called neurofeedback, and it is slowly gaining credibility in the field of psychology and scientific community.

Neurofeedback stemmed from the practice of Biofeedback and the terms are often used synonymously. Neurofeedback works by showing people (giving them feedback) of real-time measures of things like: brainwaves, heart rate, skin temperature, etc. and encourages them to take conscious control over it. The amazing part of this practice is that though people don’t think it will work initially, walk away with astonishing results proving that they were able to do it!

Neurofeedback has recently gained popularity in neuroscience and psychology to help patients boost their brain power and recover from diseases and disorders like anxiety or ADHD. The very first attempts of neurofeedback were done to increase the amount of alpha brainwaves (associated with a calm, relaxing mental state) displayed in an individual’s E.E.G. So far, researchers and neurofeedback practitioners have had much success with treating things like ADD and ADHD. They have also found plenty of scientific evidence that proves its effectiveness! It also has been effective in treating certain cases of depression, anxiety, stroke, brain injuries, and epilepsy.

Some experimenters have even used brain scanners that allow individuals to see and control brainwave activity in specific parts of their brain! This is an amazing advancement, in my opinion! What about for people that don’t have a brainwave problem? Can neurofeedback be effective for boosting the brain power of an ordinary, average guy? Definitely. Neurofeedback has been proven to improve memory and levels of calmness before exams in many average people.

It has also been effective at improving technique in dancers and musicians. With this said, virtually anyone can benefit from the practice. There is also evidence that the practice of neurofeedback can boost our confidence, levels of creativity, enhance our sexual performance, lift depression, balance brain activity, improve relaxation, and change personality traits. All of this improvement just through the act of controlling out thoughts!

2. Pay Closer Attention (Cut Distractions)

No matter your level of genius, creativity, or common sense, none of it matters unless your mind paying attention!

Paying attention is a fairly complex brain function that allows us to focus on details or see the “big picture.” Though there is no single best way to improve concentration, there are many things you can do to improve it! The first way to enhance your concentration is to increase your level of arousal. When you are in a highly-focused, beta brainwave state, your level of arousal is much higher than usual. The brain’s concentration-state of mind is controlled largely by the production of the neurotransmitters: dopamine and noradrenalin. Dopamine induces a “goal-oriented,” pleasurable, yet highly productive state of mind. Noradrenalin induces an vigilant, slightly paranoid state of mind. It is not shocking that doing activities to raise dopamine levels boost our ability to pay attention.

One way to boost our ability to pay attention is by taking drugs like amphetamines (Ritalin, Adderall, etc.) – drugs that treat ADHD. Caffeine also works well to boost our levels of concentration. I personally prefer a drug-free approach due to safety concerns associated with taking drugs. I know (from experience) that these drugs are not the way to go: they are a short term solution to a problem that needs a long term approach.

Another great way to boost your ability to pay attention is to get a good night’s sleep, eat brain foods, and get plenty of exercise! Meditation is also a great practice to incorporate into your lifestyle. Studies have proven meditation’s effectiveness at increasing our ability to pay attention. After you have chosen one of the methods mentioned above to improve your focus, you need to begin cutting distractions. Studies conducted at the workplace discovered that it takes at least 10 minutes to regain a quality state of focus after becoming distracted.

Psychologists highly recommend that you avoid doing work near noisy, annoying, distracting appliances like the dishwasher, fridge, or T.V. It is best to drown out background noise while working by finding a quiet place to work, using earmuffs or earplugs (if necessary), or even listening to music to kill the other noise. There are plenty of tactics you can use to help you keep paying attention. Pick one method you like best and stick with it!

3. Can You Learn From The Nuns?

If you don’t want to develop senility throughout your old age, you should consider asking a Nun what to do!?

A convent in Mankato, Minnesota may seem like an abnormal place to run a brain experiment… But, a study of 75 to 107 year old nuns has revealed great insight into keeping the brain healthy and powerful moreso than most other experiments to this date! This “Nun study” was done with over 600 total Catholic Nuns and an expert of Alzheimer’s disease and aging.

The nun’s high-levels of longevity is largely attributed to their lifestyle. They do not drink or smoke, they live quietly and socialize, they are calm, deeply spiritual, and have a healthy diet. All of these small differences in lifestyle appeared to make huge differences in brain power and aging later in life. A relatively low percentage of the nuns suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, but many have avoided dementia and senility that most individuals develop. Many of the nun’s brains revealed no signs of excessive aging.

The overall study revealed a few common factors that helped the nuns’ brain power: having the correct amount of vitamin folate, verbal ability early in life, and having positive emotions early in life. Also, activities such as: sewing, doing crossword puzzles, and exercising helped prevent senility. Spirituality and the positive emotions resulting from it, also had significant benefits. Individual differences also matter: irregular metabolism, strokes, and head injuries, all increase your susceptibility towards developing Alzheimer’s disease.

You definitely don’t need to become a nun to stay mentally fit, though! We can all work towards brain power improvements! With that said, this study can provide us with a plethora of great advice to take from the lives of some nuns and apply it to our own lives!

4. Physical Exercise Vs. Mental Exercise

Staying active through physical exercise can not only make you stronger physically, it will boost your brain power!

Are you the type of person who hates studying? Well, according to researchers, exercising for just 30 minutes a day up to 3 times per week can significantly improve your ability to concentrate, use reasoning, and your overall learning abilities by nearly 20 percent! The brain boosting effects of exercise are even more powerful and easier to observe in old people. Elderly individuals that are able to walk regularly perform much better on memory tests than their non-exercising friends. Even more impressive is the fact that over several years, their overall cognitive performance shows much less decline than those who don’t exercise. Every extra exercise session has significant benefits!

Though elderly individuals display the most noticeable changes in mental performance, they are not the only group of people that benefit from exercise. Children have been studied too: school-kids that exercise 3 to 4 times per week get higher exam scores than those who don’t! Though the effect is most observable in male schoolchildren, females do definitely benefit as well! Research suggests that aerobic exercise boosts cognition by getting extra oxygen to the brain.

There is also another great reason that your brain is so fond of physical exercise: it promotes neurogenesis a.K.a. “the growth of new neurons (brain cells)!” Until recently, scientists figured that we were born with a maximum amount of brain cells and that we could not replenish lost or killed brain cells. New studies, however, have confirmed that exercise definitely produces new brain cell growth (in people of all ages), even in adults!

The brain boosting effects of exercise are most seen in the hippocampus – the part of the brain responsible for learning and memory. This is also the brain region that is easily damaged by cortisol – a brain-cell killing stress hormone. This is why if you are ever feeling stressed, the best thing you can do for your brain is to go for a hard run! Even relaxing, stretching-type exercise like hatha yoga can work wonders for your cognition. Scientific researchers have discovered that bending backwards – as opposed to forward bending and standing – is the best way to get a quick mood lift!

Apparently, not only does a fit body positively affect our brain, our brain can actually produce changes in our body! In 2001, researchers at the “Cleveland Clinic Foundation of Ohio” asked volunteer participants to spend 15 minutes each day thinking about exercising their biceps. After 12 short weeks, their bicep muscles were 13 % stronger than they were before! This is very interesting and a phenomenon that (in my opinion) should be studied more! The effects from this study were amazing, just from spending 15 minutes “thinking” about exercising a certain muscle group!

5. Get A Good Night’s Sleep (Seriously…)

You should never underestimate the power associated with getting a good night’s sleep!

Cheating your brain of sleep is actually very harmful to your brain! Depriving yourself of sleep is one of the many things that kill brain cells! (Yikes!) Your ability to problem solve, plan, learn, and concentrate all are significantly reduced. Intelligence scores are lowered. You become unable to properly function: if you have been awake for twenty-one hours straight, your cognitive abilities are equal to someone who is legally drunk! You should not be on the road… lack of sleep is just as bad for your brain as driving drunk. And, you don’t need to pull an all-nighter to suffer from the dangerous effects: just 2 to 3 (back-to-back) late nights with early mornings have the exact same negative side-effects!
What is also interesting is the fact that if you allow someone who isn’t sleep deprived to get an extra hour of sleep, they perform much better on normal tasks requiring high levels of attention, such as taking a test! These are not the only benefits resulting from a good-night’s sleep either! While you are sleeping, your brain is able to process new learned skills, the formation of memories, and solve problems.

An example is working on an extremely difficult math problem… Instead of working 8 hours straight trying to solve the problem, you would be better off working for a couple hours and taking a cat-nap. Why? Because, while you are asleep your brain refreshes and reactivates the neural circuits that it used when you were working on the problem. It then rehearses your memories as you worked on the problem and converts short-term memories into the long-term storage. The same applies to other skills such as learning a sport, playing an instrument, and driving a car.

There is also plenty of evidence that getting quality sleep helps us produce moments of problem-solving insight. Many people claim that their problems are solved sometimes in their dreams. One famous story and example, is that of the Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev. He claimed to suddenly “understand” a problem he was trying to solve with the periodic table in a dream, after he had spent an entire day struggling with the problem! It appears as though sleep allows the brain to juggle new experiences and memories, and provide us with flashes of creativity and ah-ha moments! If you are ever in doubt about a problem or stressed out, snooze on it! You may be surprised at what your brain is able to accomplish!

2 Comments »

Forgot where you put your car-keys? Does your mind blank out when trying to think of answers? Forgetting these types of things is a sign of how busy we are. “When we’re not paying good attention, the memories we form aren’t very robust, and we have a problem retrieving the information later,” says Zaldy S. Tan, MD, director of a Memory Disorders Clinic in Boston. Not everyone has a bad memory, but everyone can benefit from a few memorization tips.

How to better remember names:

1) Pay close attention — When you first meet someone, consciously force yourself to listen closely to that person’s name. To improve ability to remember the name, be sure to ask about the spelling. Ask if “Kristine is spelled with a ‘K’ or a ‘C’ “– picture the spelling. Also, be sure to add a comment about the name such as: “I used to have a few friends named Kristine, but their names were spelled with a ‘K’ and not a ‘C’ like yours.” Always be sure to use their name when first greeting them, saying goodbye, or throughout a conversation.

2) Visualize their name — If you are terrible at remembering names, it may help to relate their name with a picture. Visualize their name, meditate on it if you need to. Picture the name, or a picture associated with the name, then picture the person. If the person’s first name is something like Troy — it may help to picture the person and then the DVD cover of the movie “Troy.” If you are shooting to remember the last name as well, try to break it up into smaller words. Heres an example: a man’s last name is Lidkey — break the name up into the words “lid” and “key.” Picture a “lid” and “key” and associate it with the man’s face.

3) Jot down some notes — If you are watching a speaker or are in a position to help you take notes to remember a person, by all means do so. It will definitely help by jotting down some personal features like: has a shiny bald-head, coached the University’s basketball team, and wears big sunglasses. These notes will serve as a good reference when you need a reminder.

Misplacing things: Where did I put my cell phone?

1) Describe the “play-by-play” –Notice what you are doing when you set your cell phone down on the table. Increase your overall awareness by being conscious that you’ve lost your cell phone in the past, tell yourself that you won’t forget where you put it. As you set down your cell phone on the table, tell yourself: “I’m reminding myself that I’m putting my cell phone on this table,” so you have a clear memory of where you put your cell phone.

2) Make remembering a habit — Put a small box or basket on the counter top. Train yourself to put your cell phone, sunglasses, car keys, or any other object that you commonly misplace, in the basket after each use. By putting each object in the basket, you are gradually training yourself to remember where you put things.

How to remember tasks to complete:

1) Give yourself a physical reminder — To remind yourself what you need to do, write a big “to-do” list for the day and post it up in a place you will easily see each day. Give yourself some sort of “physical” reminder. You expect to see your bills on the table, so leaving them sit won’t necessarily remind you to pay them; everybody can forget. If you place your toothbrush or glasses on your bills, you will be more likely to pay them without forgetting. Why? When you place an object like a shoe or toothbrush that you use on a daily basis, you will be forced to look for that object. Seeing the object next to your bills will make you remember to pay the bills with less procrastination.

2) Sing some tunes — A great way to remember is to sing. The sound of music has potential to create a rhythm that “gets stuck in our head.” There are many ways to create a tune to help you remember. To remember items on a shopping list, combine them with a well-known, catchy melody. Combine “new shirts, jeans, socks” with the tune to nursery rhymes like “jack and jill” or a popular song that’s been stuck in your head.

3) Use mnemonic devices — Many of us have used phrases like “My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas.” Using the first letter of each word can help to remember Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Another very common mnemonic device is “ROY G BIV” to remember the colors of a rainbow. You can make your own form of a mnemonic device to help you remember names in a family. Let’s say the Johnson family has 4 kids that you want to remember: Alex, Eileen, Peter, and Susan. Combine the first letter of their names and you have “APES.” Next time all you’ll need to do is think of a monkey or ape and you are likely to remember the “APES” of the Johnson family.

4) Put your body to use — When you don’t have a writing tool and paper to make a shopping list or to-do-list, remember it by associating each item with parts of your body. Begin at your head and work your way down to your feet. So if you need to by eggs, calculators, chicken, and gum, you should try to picture something like: a smashed egg on your head, calculators on each shoulder, a chicken stuck underneath your shirt, and gum on the bottom of your shoes. When you are able to associate items with something like body parts, you are improving your memory, facilitating creativity, and don’t need to waste time writing out a list.

Remembering passwords: e-mail accounts, bank accounts, PIN numbers

1) Associate shapes with the numbers — For example: the number 2 could appear to look like a duck, 0 looks like a bowling ball, 1 looks like a pen, 8 looks like a snowman, etc. You can use your imagination and think of associations that work best for you. To remember your PIN number 8201, imagine that you have built a snowman (8), when ducks come near (2), you roll a bowling ball (0), miss them and find a new pen.

2) Start rhyming — Think of words that rhyme with numbers. 3-6-9 tree, sticks, pine (all pertaining to the woods). You could get a theme going. Making letters rhyme with numbers and vice-versa is a great way to improve your memory. You are much more likely to remember something that rhymes over something that doesn’t! Start rhyming your way to a better memory.

I have a terrible memory, will anything work?

Some people may have a worse memory than others, but there’s always a method that you can use to improve. Don’t lose hope if you do have a below-average memory. Always keep trying new ways to improve your memorization abilities. A few tips that I have are:

1) Read, talk, and listen to what you are trying to memorize — To memorize a textbook passage or poem, read the material, say the material out loud, and focus on hearing what you are reading. It wouldn’t hurt to write or type what you’ve just read. Writing and typing encourage memory formation through repetition. If you need to, record what you are trying to memorize and play it on your way to work each morning. Rotate every third day between: reading the poem over, stating the poem out loud, and listening to your recorded version of the poem.

2) Eliminate distractions when memorizing — When you can hear the T.V. playing, have the radio playing or your i-Pod playing while trying to memorize, it will naturally be much harder for your brain to retain the information. A valuable recommendation is to eliminate all possible distractions such as: T.V., music, and other distracting sounds. It may help to go to the library in a quiet place to concentrate. Eliminating distractions is much more productive if you are trying to memorize: quit wasting time and get in a good environment that promotes healthy memorization.

3) Take fish oil — The DHA in fish oil supplements has been proven to form memories. I have been taking fish oil supplements for almost 2 years and have personally experienced an improved memory and overall brain function. Fish oil is linked to an increased I.Q. and building a healthier brain. If you haven’t yet at least tried out fish oil for awhile, I recommend it. It could be the best thing for your brain’s memory. If you think you’ll forget a lot of this list, get out a pen and write down “buy fish oil” and start taking it to experience leaps in memory.

Women’s memories are better than men’s in a couple of areas:

1) Remembering stressful, frightening, or unpleasant experiences — The hormone Estrogen activates a much bigger neuron field in a woman’s brain during an unpleasant experience. When faced with an unpleasant experience, women actually find it to be much more distressing than men. “Simply remembering an unpleasant experience can bring back the same terrible sadness and agitation to women that they experienced at the time,” says Dr. Legato, author of Why Men Never Remember and Women Never Forget. On a positive note, women are probably better at remembering more precise details of an accident or crime scene.

2) When people talk — “This includes stories read aloud from books, as well as verbal arguments,” says Dr. Legato. The spoken word becomes firmly packed into women’s memories and can be recalled more easily than men. This is due to an increase in the amount of blood flow to the brain that women experience when listening.

Men can have phenomenal memorization abilities, it’s just that it is more common for women to have a natural advantage when it comes to memorizing.

Will you remember this article ?

Don’t be discouraged if you currently have a bad memory. There are many things you can do to keep your brain fit and memory boosted. If you can do yourself a favor and at least remember the information within this article, your memory will start to improve. If know that you will forget this article, then print it out now and tape it up in a place you will see everyday.  There are also other ways to improve your brain with things like memory vitamins that you should check out if you are interested.

————————————————————————————————————————–

References: Reader’s Digest, March 2008, “New Ways To Retrain Your Brain” by Patricia Curtis.

12 Comments »

It always feels good to come home after a hard day’s work, lay back on the recliner and take a nice hearty nap. Not only do naps feel good, it is great for your brain’s memory according to a recent study. University of Haifa’s Behavior and Brain Research Center conducted a study lead by Professor Avi Karni and Dr. Maria Korman. They found that a daytime nap changes the course of memory formation in the brain for the better.

The study involved 2 groups of participants: one group which took a nap for 1 hour & 30 minutes after learning a specific sequence involving bringing the thumb and forefinger together. The other group stayed awake after the learning process. The research process examined how quickly and accurate the subjects were able to repeat the sequence involving the thumb and forefinger.

What were the results? The group that took an hour and 1/2 nap in the afternoon showed significant improvements in overall memory performance later that evening. The research suggests that a daytime nap enhances the overall level of performance in the brain! After a nights sleep, the subject’s brains were on the same level, but “the group that slept in the afternoon improved much faster than the group that stayed awake,” noted Professor Karni.

A second experiment was conducted as well to verify results. The second study demonstrated that another aspect of memory is definitely accelerated by sleep. It was previously shown that 6-8 hours after completing an effective memory practice session, there can be interference in the neural process of memory consolidation. When one learns or performs a second, different task, one’s brain will not be able to successfully remember the first trained task. The group that took a snooze were able to remember the trained task and the second different task!

There was also a third group of participants in the study that learned a different thumb-to-finger sequence 2 hours after practicing the first task. They were not allowed to take a nap. When the second task was introduced at the beginning of the 6-8 hour period, the second task the group didn’t show any improvement or boosted brain task-performance during the evening or the next day. However, when the fourth group of participants took a 90 minute nap between learning the first set of movements and the second. This group showed a significant improvement in their task-performance the following morning!

“This part of the study demonstrated, for the first time, that daytime sleep can shorten the time “how to” memory becomes immune to interference and forgetting. Instead of 6-8 hours, the brain consolidated the memory during the 90 minute nap,” said Professor Karni. She also said, “That while this study demonstrates that the process of memory consolidation is accelerated during daytime sleep, it is still not clear which mechanisms sleep accelerates in the process.”

What has this study shown me? If you want a good memory, take a snooze during the day! This makes perfect sense to me because when you take a nap your brain shifts down from the beta brainwave pattern to some deep alpha & theta patterns which have been proven to accelerate learning processes and improve long-term memory. Theta waves can literally bind memories in your brain for the long-term, which is really cool.

A note to all students: if you have a big test or examination coming up, remember to keep sleep in proportion with your study time. Rather than staying up all night cramming, it is better to study for a little while and then get some quality sleep because the sleep will help your brain form memories of what you just crammed! When scientists are able to identify these mechanisms, new methods could be used to accelerate the development of memory consolidation. Until these are found, if you need a good memory especially for learning “how to do” something, snooze on it!

2 Comments »