How to improve memory and brain function? — Exercises, folk remedies, medications. How can you improve memory in an adult: effective ways What to do to improve memory

With age, many begin to notice that it becomes much more difficult to remember basic things. Having a good memory is very important and necessary. After all, thanks to it you can get a promising job and more easily adapt to life in the environment.

Now we will try to figure out what exactly needs to be done to ensure that information is easier to remember and retained in the brain for as long as possible.

Human memory is the most important element in the human brain. To some extent, it is considered our consciousness. And it is necessary in order to survive in the world around us. Imagine if a person had no memory at all. In this case, he would be no different from a primitive creature, and everything that is around us would simply not exist. In order to keep your memory in good condition you need to:

• eat healthy and balanced foods;
• load your brain with a wide variety of information;
• set a goal for yourself and strive to achieve it in every way.

It is very important that the goal you set is clear. Otherwise, the brain may begin to limit itself from unnecessary information.

Food provides energy for the brain, which is why a person must consume the required amount of vitamins and minerals. But it is also important to pay attention to the quality characteristics, and not to the availability of the product.

When you need to remember something quickly and for a short time

It is worth paying attention to the fact that a person very quickly gets used to monotony, against the background of which memory begins to weaken. That is why it is very important to change familiar situations more often. For example, change your route to work, start visiting completely different stores, change your culinary habits. In this case, the brain will be forced to remember completely different street names, route bus numbers, and compare new facts.

New dishes prepared will have a completely different taste, which will be reflected in the functioning of the brain. As an example, you can also try changing your hand for writing text. If you normally write with your right hand, try writing a few sentences with your left. This situation will be unusual for the brain, which will lead to interhemispheric exchange.

The only drawback of this method of memorization is that the brain gets used to it very quickly and needs to be trained regularly.

Fast and reliable memorization

The most effective method for quick and reliable memorization is learning a foreign language. Moreover, memorizing words should not be on a mechanical level, but have associated images. Thanks to this specificity, words will be recorded in your brain and stored there for a long time. It is advisable to study a foreign language until you can easily start watching foreign films in the original.

Tools for slow memorization forever

In order to remember information forever and slowly, you can engage in daily meditation. They will help maintain control over thoughts and, thereby, improve memory. Another good memorization method is drawing. This is what makes it possible to concentrate on details and train hand motor skills for memorization.

Herbal infusions

In order to improve your memory, it is not necessary to immediately resort to drug treatment. There are quite a few remedies in folk medicine that have both preventive and therapeutic effects.

Clover tincture

In order to prepare this infusion, you will need half a liter jar of clover heads. Add ½ liter of vodka to them, cover with a lid and hide in a dark place. Leave for two weeks, stirring it daily. After the designated time, pour the resulting liquid into a dark container. Take 1 tablespoon in the afternoon for three weeks. Then take the same break and repeat the procedure. The course of treatment should be 3 months.

Red rowan bark

Add a glass of boiling water to one tablespoon of bark and keep on low heat for 10 minutes. Then pour everything into a thermos and leave to steep for 6 hours. You need to take it 3 times a day for one month. This course should be repeated twice a year, preferably not in the summer. The decoction will not only improve memory, but also saturate the body with vitamins and strengthen the immune system.

In her program, Elena Malysheva will talk about herbs and spices to improve memory.

Herbal collection

Before you start preparing the infusion, mix the dry herbs: raspberry leaves - 6 teaspoons, lingonberries - 6 teaspoons, oregano - 2 teaspoons and bergenia - 8 teaspoons. Then from the resulting mixture, take one tablespoon and fill the collection with ½ liters of boiled water. Keep on fire for 10 minutes, then cover the dish and leave for 2 hours. You need to drink this mixture twice a day for at least 3 weeks. The course is held 2 times a year.

Sage and mint

Take 2 teaspoons each of dry mint and sage. Place the herbs in a thermos and fill them with 500 ml of boiled water. Before you start drinking the infusion, you need to strain it. Take 50 grams four times a day 30 minutes before meals.

"Grandma's" recipe

To prepare the infusion, you will need about five table pine needles, which will need to be chopped. Add onion peels and rose hips (two tablespoons each). Pour the resulting mixture with a liter of cold water and boil for about 10 minutes. Leave the infusion overnight in a warm place. The course lasts two weeks. Every day, take 1 tablespoon 5 times.

Memory Improvement Products

In order to maintain memory, your diet must be balanced. Fresh fruits and vegetables will help you improve your memory and stimulate your brain. It is especially worth paying attention to oranges and spinach. Other products include:

• blueberries – they contain large quantities of antioxidants, which have a beneficial effect on the human brain. Recently, studies were conducted that found that blueberries can improve short-term memory;
• carrots – contain carotene. It should be consumed stewed or fresh. In order for carotene to be absorbed, season the carrots with oil or sour cream;
• eggs – they contain lecithin, which helps maintain the health of brain cells;
• wheat germ – they contain a large amount of vitamin E. It is especially useful to take wheat germ for those who have memory problems associated with age;
• fish – here you should pay attention to fatty varieties;
• nuts;
• dark chocolate.

Drugs

In most cases, experts are inclined to believe that it is possible to take drugs that improve memory in old age. But on the other hand, there are cases when their use may become necessary for young people. For example, to students during a session. In the modern world, many people face the problem of memory loss.

The reason may be environmental problems, poor nutrition, and lack of desire to train your brain. In this regard, irritability may begin to appear, a person becomes dissatisfied with himself and the world around him, and it is very difficult for him to remember the necessary information at a crucial moment. When a person notices that his memory fails him at crucial moments, he begins to think about eliminating this trouble.

Among medications, it is worth highlighting nootropics. They help stimulate brain function. These include Nootropil, Piracetam, Izacetam, Oxiracetam and others. Please note that after taking one tablet you will not see any noticeable improvements. For a positive result, you need to take the drug for about a month. After the course, information is perceived much easier and remembered faster.

How to improve a child's memory

In childhood, it is very important to give the brain active training. It just so happens that modern children devote too little time to active games, thereby giving preference to computers and televisions.

In order for movement to take place in children’s lives, teach them to do morning exercises from an early age. In addition, children should be sent to various sections: dancing, wrestling, football, skating, and so on.

Try to diversify your child's hobbies. You can select multiple circles. If this is not possible, observe the baby’s interests and give him the opportunity to experiment with his activities.

Monitor your child's nutrition. Don't forget about foods that contain vitamins and minerals.

Accustom your child to mental games, for example, “to the cities,” “words with one letter,” “associations.” Learn rhymes and tongue twisters with him.

Exercises to improve memory in children can be seen in this video.

How to improve memory in older people

For older people, memory deteriorates with age. In order for your memory not to fail you for as long as possible, you should adhere to the basic rules:

1. Make your brain work. Logic puzzles and crossword puzzles are good for this; you can start learning a foreign language;
2. Try to take mental breaks once an hour. You can walk a little or do a little gymnastics;
3. Try not to succumb to stress and depression;
4. Plan your affairs by writing them down in a diary, and also record important dates;
5. Try to read more books;
6. Pay attention to small details;
7. Learn poetry by heart;
8. Do what you love, learn some new activities.

As we can see, if you adhere to the basic rules, then an excellent memory will serve you for many years. But if you notice even the slightest deterioration, start immediately taking the necessary measures.

In contact with

Classmates

2019-12-25T17:58:09+00:00

Improve an adult's memory with exercise? Seriously!? I always have a lot of information in my head, at work, at home... I also don’t want to overload my brain with exercises.

2019-10-11T09:29:25+00:00

Yes, there is no way to improve it at home... I tried it myself, but there was little effect. So I went to the doctor. He prescribed me ginkum, fish oil and vitamin D. Gradually I began to notice that my forgetfulness had receded. And before this, ant herbs didn’t help me much. They may be of some use, but definitely not for a long time.

2019-09-26T10:52:41+00:00

Memory needs to be trained all the time. I don’t study poetry, but I regularly write reviews of books I read and participate in discussions. This helped a lot. But over the past year I’ve somehow fallen out of whack. Very busy work and a fast pace of life do not allow you to fully restore your strength. I became very absent-minded, which is fatal in my work. On recommendation, I took mildronate, it has already been mentioned below. Sold without a prescription in bright pink packaging. After the full course I am full of energy again. And now I have time to cope with work, and I haven’t given up my hobby. Including from running in the morning, which I didn’t have the strength to do.

2019-08-22T17:06:17+00:00

Nice article, thanks! I’m looking for information for my wife, I’ll send her a link, otherwise she doesn’t want to hear anything from me). I’ll add it to my bookmarks too) I also came across an article on the topic, with the permission of the moderator I’m posting the link http://mentalsky.ru/kak-uluchshit-pamyat-cheloveka/. Maybe someone will find it useful

2019-08-19T18:46:59+00:00

I agree with Lina, chronic fatigue bothers me and prevents me from living a normal life. Rest and sleep are not at all an option to escape from it. But mildronate helped. I took the course for two weeks. Within ten days it became easier to concentrate on the tasks at hand, and work more energetically, and in general my physical condition also improved. Even the treadmill is a joy again and has returned to its speed.

2019-08-19T01:27:43+00:00

Memory cannot be improved quickly, it can be trained if it is not some serious illness. After all, absent-mindedness and loss of concentration, and therefore memory, can simply be due to overload at work and outside of it.

Anna Mironova

Reading time: 9 minutes

A A

In our time, saturated with diverse information, people often notice that their memory can no longer retain names, phone numbers, work materials, etc. Memory, like any other organ of our body, needs to be constantly trained. This article is not only about means that help develop memory, but also restore it if it deteriorates.

The following ways will help you improve and develop your mental well-being and condition:

What helps improve memory? 10 best memory aids

1. Sleep at least 8 hours a day

   We recommend sleeping at least 8 hours at night And if possible - at least 1 hour during the day . Scientists have proven that the result of lack of sleep is a sharp increase in risk when driving; the lack of necessary rest makes a person inattentive and absent-minded. If you don't get enough sleep, you will make more mistakes. Daytime sleep, in turn, leads to slower aging , maintains hair and the body's circulatory system in good condition.

2. Eat right

   Products that improve memory can be found in any housewife’s home: tomatoes, carrots, radishes, potatoes, dill, seaweed, horseradish, basil, celery, buckwheat, rice, fish caviar, poultry meat and egg yolks, nuts, figs, dark raisins, pineapples, oranges, sea buckthorn, dates, apricots, chokeberries rowan, grape juice. You should eat dark meat, marinades, and mushrooms as little as possible, and limit your consumption of beans and legumes.

3. Lead an active lifestyle

   Go to different places, take walks. Everything new and unusual develops our memory, creativity and thinking. , run in the morning. Running and other physical exercises are a universal means for developing your memory. Sport is the best master that will bring your body and memory into proper shape.

4. Talk to people more

   Brain activity stimulates communication with people very well. Researchers from the United States have found that talking with another person for at least ten minutes a day improves memory. And the more you communicate with others, the faster your brain works. If you have trouble remembering the names of new people, this problem can be easily solved. Repeat the required name several times directly during communication. For example, “Tell me, Anna...”, “Nice to meet you, Anna.” In addition to the benefits of remembering your name, your interlocutor will be pleased to hear your name during a conversation.

5. Find yourself a new activity, hobby

   This is one of the most effective ways to develop memory. Learn a foreign language, figure out how to use a new computer program, develop your culinary skills, fulfill an old dream - take up music, learn to play the piano or another instrument. All these activities will make your brain work much faster , will make it healthier, and also develop your memory and creative thinking.

6. Use various trainings

   For example, after sleep, while still lying under the covers, do a simple morning routine. gymnastics that develops memory . Read the entire alphabet silently or out loud in order, and then think of a word for each letter. Then remember 20 words starting with the same letter. List 20 names of products, flowers, plants, countries or cities. Remember 20 female and male names. Count to 100 and back. If you know a foreign language, you can do it in another language.
   . They will not only allow you to develop your memory, but will also be an additional incentive to communicate with the people around you.

7. Say a decisive “no” to alcohol and smoking

   Everyone has problems from time to time, but relieving stress with alcohol, cigarettes, or worse, drugs is not an option. Not only will they not solve your problems, but they will also narrow blood vessels and worsen your health, which will in no way contribute not only to the development, but even to the preservation of memory.

8. Train your back. Sit correctly

   A good way to prevent memory from deteriorating is watch your posture . According to American researchers, incorrect posture (head bowed down, shoulders drooping, chin protruding) leads to curvatures appearing in the spine, which can pinch the arteries running along the spine to the brain. What causes a disruption in the blood supply to the brain, leading to memory loss and clouding of consciousness, especially in the elderly.

9. Turn to nature

   Traditional medicine offers a good way to improve memory. Do not ignore the recipe, which is suitable for both adults and children: pour 6 tablespoons (without a slide) of finely chopped rose hips with hot, but not boiling water. Cool the broth to room temperature and strain. You need to drink the decoction before meals two to three times a day, a third of a glass for 20-25 days . For children, it is advisable to dilute the broth with water in a one to one ratio. You will be satisfied with the effect.

10. Laugh! Laughter is the best medicine

    Laugh every time there is a reason and without a reason. Laugh in front of people and to yourself. You're not laughing - at least smile. People who laugh are much less likely to see doctors because Laughter evokes positive emotions, relaxes and activates the pleasure zone. in our brain.

Memory reserves are almost limitless; we use only a small fraction in our lives. Don't be lazy to develop your brain. Every day, learn poems or quatrains, sayings, counting rhymes, memorize new foreign words, phone numbers. When shopping in a store, try not to immediately use a “cheat sheet” prepared in advance, but try to remember what you wanted to purchase, and then check the selected products with the list. In your free moments, remember the little things that surround you, for example, how many windows there are in your house, how many doors there are in the office, what the head of the department was wearing today, and so on. All this will happen train and expand your memory capabilities .

People keep millions of notebooks every day so as not to forget about purchases, dry cleaning, important numbers and books. As a result, they themselves forget where they put their notebooks, instead of learning how to improve their memory. Thanks to simple techniques and tests, a person is able to significantly increase the level of memory and attention. To recognize people who casually greet you, and to easily remember the names of the characters in your favorite books, we offer you interesting, useful material on how to quickly improve your memory.

Ways to develop memory at home

There are several proven, user-friendly techniques and important areas for development. This:

1. Nice fantasy. Associate numbers with objects, plants, animals.
2. Repeat, but don’t cram for an exam! There is a fine line between these processes, which it is important not to cross. Think about what you are repeating, otherwise, having memorized it, you will remember what you need for a short period. A short-term process will work.
3. Correct concentration. Concentrate on the memorization itself. Comprehend, pay attention to the process, draw an analogy with facts from your life experience.
4. Movement is life! Good blood circulation in the body activates brain activity and mental processes. Walk, dance, play sports.
5. Eat right. Following the rules of healthy nutrition and a good daily diet has a beneficial effect on how to develop memory. Consume vegetables, grains, eggs, fish, and seafood to facilitate memory processes and concentration.

Medicines to improve memory and brain function

Drugs that improve memory, attention, and brain activity:

1. Aminalon. The action of the tablets is aimed at improving mental activity. After taking a course of the drug, memory improves, mental activity and psychostimulation are stimulated, and all brain processes are optimized. The medicine has been added to the list of drugs that help children restore speech and stop the inhibition of mental development.
   
   
2. Vitrum memory. Vitamins in the form of tablets that improve memory, thinking abilities, and correct speech disorders. Vitrum represents vitamins, medicines for improving memory, which also act for the development of vision. The vitamin complex promotes the supply of glucose and oxygen to the brain. The composition of the blood is normalized thanks to the medication, metabolic processes and concentration increase.
   
3. Intelan. Medicines for memory and attention are produced in the form of syrup and capsules. It has the properties of stimulating long-term brain activity. Indications for taking the drug are: impaired memory, loss of concentration, tinnitus, constant body fatigue, stressful background, depression, nervous disorders, tension, frequent dizziness.
   

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine also practices its own methods to improve memory. Recipes for folk remedies:

1. Pour 0.5 liters of vodka into a half-liter jar of clover heads. The jar is closed and left to infuse in a dark place. The jar needs to be shaken daily for two weeks. After this time, the liquid is poured into a bottle with dark glass and sealed. The herbal infusion is taken for 3 weeks after lunch or before bedtime, a tablespoon. After the course, you need to take a three-week break, and then take the tincture again. The product will improve memory and normalize intracranial pressure.
2. Strengthen your memory with mint and sage infusion. Dry crushed leaves are mixed one tablespoon at a time in a thermos. Add boiling water (2 cups) to the leaves and leave overnight. In the morning, filter the mixture and consume half an hour before meals once a day. A dose of 50 ml is calculated for one dose of medication. Thanks to the tincture, the nervous system becomes toned, and memory and attention improve.

Memory Improvement Products

Pay attention to your daily diet, does it include foods that help nourish your memory and brain? These include:

1. Fish and nuts, rich in vitamins, share the first place among such products.
2. They are followed by berries: cranberries and blueberries, which contain a huge amount of antioxidants that affect memory sharpness, visual analysis and attention.
3. Due to its oily structure, sage improves memory, so it should be added to tea periodically.
4. Carrots slow down the transition to old age, so even at three years old, even after 50 years, drinking vitamin-rich carrot juice is not only tasty, but also healthy.
5. Dark chocolate is very useful for brain function, increasing attention, and just a small piece is enough to restore work force.



Vitamins

1. Vitamin E - will provide serious preventive measures against deterioration of attention. Contained in nuts, seeds, eggs, brown rice, lettuce, parsley, dill, oatmeal, and liver.
2. Vitamin B1 is responsible for cognitive processes and high-quality memorization. You can make up for the lack of substance with the help of meat, oatmeal, buckwheat, peas and nuts.
3. Vitamin B2 – replenishes the body with the energy necessary for work. Cabbage, tomatoes, peas, almonds, and brewer's yeast contain the largest amounts of this important element.
4. Vitamin B3 – energy in nerve cells is controlled by this vitamin. Chicken meat, yolk, buckwheat, fish will replenish vitamin B3 reserves.
5. Vitamin B5 - many delicious foods are filled to capacity with this memory stimulant. Caviar, liver, eggs, cabbage, milk, cheese retain a lot of useful substances.
6. Vitamin B6 – increases intellectual abilities and memory. Potatoes, nuts, bananas, cabbage are rich in it.
7. Vitamin B9 – the level of memorability and speed of thinking depend on it. The central nervous system operates under the influence of folic acid. To increase the level of vitamin in the body, you should eat dairy products, apricots, pumpkin, cheese, and meat.
8. Vitamin B12 is a regulator of body activity at all times of the day. You can find it in fish, poultry, and beef.
9. Vitamin C – you can get a powerful antioxidant not only at the pharmacy, but also by eating citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, apricots, and spinach.
10. Vitamins K, D, P are indispensable for proper brain function, good memory and developed attention. They are present in nuts, broccoli, zucchini, cabbage, and green tea.



Exercises to train memory and attention

Memory needs constant training with the help of simple exercises and developmental processes. How to develop photographic memory and easily handle large amounts of information? There are the following exercises:

1. Learn poetry or prose - this is the best food for memory and brain. Don’t teach mindlessly, think about the meaning of the work.
2. Connect the items you need to remember with those you already know well. An example of such associations is the famous phrase: “Every Hunter Wants to Know Where the Pheasant Sits.”
3. Focus your attention on the item you want to remember. After five seconds, close your eyes, imagine the image of the object, its outline, shape, color. Develop your attention by remembering the smallest details.

In adults

How to improve memory as much as possible and increase attention when you are already approaching old age? Simple exercises will help cope with forgetfulness, increase concentration, and activate brain activity. Gymnastics for memory development will be an excellent way to improve your skills at 20, 30 and after 40 years. Learn to think abstractly and memorize well thanks to the video lesson!

In children

Does your baby forget the necessary information after a minute, and it’s impossible to say anything good about good attention? A specialist can answer how to develop a child’s memory. The video presents special games for the development of extraordinary thinking. They also promote good memory and concentration in the child. An experienced psychologist will introduce you to activities that are recommended for younger students. How to improve your child's memory through mnemonic games? Let's prepare your child together with professionals!

How to improve memory

We invite you to consider 14 simple and effective ways to improve your memory to increase your own academic and/or professional productivity.

Use mnemonics

Just as a computer uses binary code to store data and retrieves it in a user-friendly form, the human brain records information in a specific order and later presents it in a specific form. Mnemonics uses exactly this technique. It helps to store information in a specific code and then easily recall it. It may sound abstruse, but it's actually very simple.

Mnemonics involves using simple associations to remember information. For example, images, words, smells and other things that are familiar to you that can be associated with new information. Use your imagination to master this memory improvement technique.

Learn something new

Memory is like a car: if you don't use it, you lose it.

To improve your memory and maintain brain performance, learn new things as often as possible. There is no recipe for longevity, but all long-livers have one thing in common (besides a healthy diet): they constantly use their minds. Learn a new dance, a new language, a new game.... At the same time, you will also make new friends, and sociability is also very important, but more on that a little later.

Get enough sleep

The process of storing information occurs while you sleep. The brain then switches from a receiving state to a storing state: during rapid eye movement sleep, all the events that happened during the day are classified and associated with other already accumulated memories and knowledge.

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, studied memory decline in adults and found that it was associated with poor sleep. And another study found that getting enough sleep helps children improve their academic performance. Combining these results, we get the main conclusion: to improve your memory, you need to get enough sleep, no matter how old you are. Every adult needs eight hours of sleep, perhaps a little more or less, depending on the individual.

The best way to remember the information you need is to focus on it just before you go to bed.

Focus on exercise

A study conducted by Dr. David Jacobs at the University of Minnesota concluded that people who regularly practiced cardiovascular exercise in their youth had better memory by middle age, namely after 45 years. This statement did not become a sensation, since it is already known all over the world that swimming, running and other activities help people avoid memory deterioration in the long term. After all, exercise raises your heart rate and increases blood flow to the brain.

Watch your diet

The term “brain food” is quite common. There are foods that improve brain function and prevent memory loss. A new study conducted at the University Hospital of Basel, Switzerland, found green tea to be one of these superfoods. Omega-3 fatty acids found in nuts, ocean fish and olive oil have also been shown to be effective memory enhancers. Other foods to include in your diet include eggs, tomatoes, red wine (use with caution), capers, blueberries and turmeric.

Previous, lesser-known studies have found that vanilla, rosemary and sage may also stimulate memory.

Chewing gum is another proven way to improve memory, as it increases your heart rate and releases certain aromas. Both activate memories.

Practice meditation and proper breathing

Meditation is actively promoted these days as a panacea for various ills. It really can bring you real benefits and pleasure.

First, meditation can speed up your heart rate, thereby increasing blood flow to the brain and enriching it with oxygen. Secondly, this practice will help you relax and concentrate, which has a surprisingly beneficial effect on your mental abilities and overall well-being.

Most meditation techniques involve deep breathing, which also helps improve memory and relieve stress. In just a few minutes a day, you will improve your health, gain a positive attitude and feel more energetic. Plus, it's free.

Enjoy nature

Walking in the fresh air improves memory. This theory was confirmed by researchers from the University of Michigan by testing two groups of people who were asked to remember a list of certain items. At the same time, one group was invited to take a walk in the garden, and the other - to walk around the city. The first group had 20% better memory. But the researchers did not stop; they tested the subjects again. This time people were shown photographs of natural landscapes and cityscapes. The results were repeated!

The next time you forget something, open pictures of green forests on your computer and your memory will come back to you.

Play

Computer games may be great, but they are unlikely to improve your cognitive function. But logical and strategic games will have a positive effect on memory and attentiveness. The most suitable games are chess, sudoku and the like. The gray cells in your brain will thank you.

Use neuro-linguistic programming (NLP)

The concept of NLP is relatively new, but it is very effective. The main idea is that the limits of human capabilities are invented by man himself, so they can be destroyed by self-hypnosis.

Basically it works like a placebo. Meditation is an excellent prelude to NLP, and when combined with diet, aromatherapy and training, you will effectively improve your memory and mental abilities.

Use aromatherapy

Perfume is not only a pleasant aroma, but also a way to revive memories. Aromatherapy is one of the most accessible means of improving memory. Many studies have proven the effectiveness of rosemary and mint.

Experiments conducted on mice confirmed that rosemary increases alertness and helps prevent age-related memory loss. Peppermint has similar properties, so next time you're studying for an exam, stock up on peppermint chewing gum.

Get acupressure or acupuncture

Acupuncture has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and produces excellent results in almost any area, so it is not surprising that it is also effective for improving memory.

Every part of your body is laced with nerve and energy channels. You can activate certain points with a very fine needle or by pressing with your fingers.

To stimulate your memory and remember something important, apply gentle pressure to your temples with your fingertips for a few seconds. This way you will relieve stress and remember, for example, where you put your keys.

Visualize Memories

A study conducted at the University of Helsinki confirmed that people have powerful visual memory. Matching certain images with new information helps to recall that information when seeing the same picture again. That's why it's so easy to tear up when looking at old photos.

Stop multitasking

Multitasking is one of the biggest productivity misconceptions in the history of the human race. Even though all companies look for this skill in future employees, it actually significantly reduces the quantity and quality of things that can be accomplished within a given time.

To improve your memory and become more productive, stop doing too many things at once and start focusing on one thing at a time. Do the most important tasks first, then take a short break. Leave the easiest tasks for last. It is better to plan meetings in the first half of the day.

Communicate

Communication is good for the brain and overall mood. Don't underestimate the power of a good conversation, even if you're not particularly interested in it. Simply chatting about recent events can improve memory by stimulating multiple areas of the brain at the same time.

The process of speaking keeps the contact points between neurons, synapses, active, which is necessary for good memory.

Which is worth worrying about. Memory is a collection of unusual factors that are useful to know about.

Maintain a straight posture

“No one loves hunchbacks and no one marries them,” mothers, grandmothers and first teachers intimidate, forcing us to watch our posture. In general, they are right, but the argument is chosen incorrectly. Research from the University of San Francisco seems much more convincing, according to which straight posture increases the flow of oxygen to the brain by 40%. Of course, no excess of oxygen occurs, but memory function improves. And it doesn’t matter whether you are sitting or standing - your back should be straight!

Here I would like to talk about the research of German scientists from the University of Witten/Herdecke. They found that a straight, “happy” gait helps to recall positive memories, but a hunched gait helps to recall depressive ones. Spread your wings and walk with confidence!

close your eyes

Remember how you or your classmates, standing at the blackboard, tried to “give birth” to a poorly learned poem. Often, the “martyr” would squeeze his eyelids tightly, trying to remember at least a couple of lines. This instinctive behavior actually works, as evidenced by a two-stage study conducted at the University of Surrey in England.

In the first case, 178 subjects were shown a crime video about a kleptomaniac plumber who did his job properly, but did not forget to take a trophy with him. Study participants were randomly divided into two groups, one of which was asked to answer questions about the details of what they saw with their eyes closed, and the other with their eyes open. As a result, subjects who closed their eyes during questioning gave 23% more correct answers.

At the second stage, participants were asked to remember the sounds. As expected, closed eyes gave the best effect here too.

It is important to mention another conclusion of scientists: friendly relations between the interviewer and the one to whom the questions were asked also increased the number of correct answers.

Avoid doorways

Hmm, it sounds strange, but it's true. Scientists from the University of Notre Dame stated that when leaving or entering a room, a person experiences the so-called doorway effect. Researchers claim that short-term memories are cleared from memory when walking through a doorway. That is, doors catalyze getting rid of thoughts that arose in a certain environment.

However, you should not go to extremes and shy away from any doors, because the psychological effect also has the opposite effect:

If you can't remember what idea you had in the bathroom last night, just go back there to immerse your brain in the atmosphere that triggered the thought.

Use unusual fonts

It’s no secret that different fonts are perceived differently by people: some are read quickly and easily, while others, after a few paragraphs, make your eyes bleed. That is why in typography and the web environment a fairly modest but well-tested set of fonts is used. This is convenient for all of us: readers of books and scrollers of online publications.

However, psychologists from Princeton University and Indiana University advise reading some texts in unusual font designs in order to remember them better. The researchers divided ordinary students into two groups, one of which was offered educational material written in the familiar Arial, and the other in Monotype Corsiva.

Verification testing allowed us to draw the following conclusion: the unusual font was remembered better, which resulted in higher grades. Scientists explain this effect by saying that hard-to-read fonts prevent the eye from skimming across the lines. A person involuntarily begins to read more thoughtfully and carefully, and therefore the meaning is better fixed in memory.

It's simple: laughing for half an hour improves memory. Scientists from Loma Linda University came to this conclusion after conducting a simple experiment on two groups of elderly people. The first twenty volunteers watched a 30-minute humorous video, while the other group did nothing. After which the subjects took a memory test. As expected, people with high spirits showed much better results. And all because:

Laughter reduces levels of cortisol, a hormone that can damage nerve cells in the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for turning information into new memories.

In addition, laughter releases endorphins, chemical compounds that elevate mood and improve memory.

Chew gum

Chewing gum helps a person focus on tasks that require constant attention over a long period of time.

Kate Morgan

The words of the Cardiff University employee are based on a study in which 38 people took part, divided into two groups. In their experiment, scientists asked volunteers to complete a half-hour audio task aimed at human short-term memory. Participants listened to a list of numbers and had to identify some sequence of even and odd digits. The findings were interesting and ambiguous: subjects without chewing gum performed slightly better at the beginning of the task, but lost to those who chewed gum by the end. Therefore, Kate advises taking chewing gum with you to long meetings or seminars.

Write notes by hand

Modern classrooms are increasingly replete with laptops and tablets, on which students record their lectures. For some, this is a reason to show off your skills, for others, it’s a way to prepare cheat sheets ahead of time, and for others, it’s a desire to write down as much as possible. Indeed, well-executed touch typing allows you to record large amounts of information. However, electronic notes are less memorable than good old handwritten text.

Researchers from Princeton University came to these conclusions. They compared the test results of students who used computers to take lecture notes with those who wrote them by hand. Listeners with pen in hand were more attentive to information, were better able to identify important information, and better organize material in their heads. The authors of the experiment make a cautious statement that machine “shorthandography” does not have the best effect on memorization, and, accordingly, on academic performance.