MemoryMan’s Best Friend?

By Jamey Gelhar

Memory

The purpose of this presentation is to give a very brief description of memory, and for the main emphasis to be about how you can increase and improve memory.

Start out by watching this YouTube cliphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grZuwo_YlY0

ENJOY!

Anatomy of Memory

• Hippocampus – acquires and consolidates new memories

• Amygdala – reacts to emotionally powerful information

• Cerebral Cortex – stores information

Cerebral cortex

Hippocampus

Amygdala

Memory Systems

• Memory has three parts: Encoding, Storage, and Retrieval.

• Encoding – the first memory process. This process involves the organization and transformation of incoming information so that it can be entered into memory

• Storage – the second memory process. Storage involves entering and maintaining information in memory for a period of time. The human memory system that stores information for brief time periods are called sensory memory and short term memory, while the more permanent system is known as long-term memory.

• Retrieval – the third memory process. Retrieval involves recovering stored information from memory so that it can be used.

- The mind is very selective in what it stores- It is also very distortive- We sometimes “remember” our past experiences in a way that is

different from what may have actually happened.- Disagreements between past events from person to person

Improving Memory

Improving Memory

• Nobody can remember all the millions of things they hear, see, touch, taste, or smell. However, there are many things you can do to improve your ability to retain and recall memories.

– Keep Learning– Use Your Senses– Diet– Repetition– Mnemonics– Exercise

Keep Learning

• Keeping your brain active is extremely important for retaining memory.

• Getting and staying in the habit of being mentally active.

• Challenge your brain with mental exercises.

• Brain activities are believed to activate processes to help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication

Use Your Senses

• Experiment

With ceramics

• Smell the ingredients while cooking

• Your brain is more involved when you use more senses

• If you can incorporate touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing when learning new information, you will be more likely to learn and retain that information.

Diet• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDeLf93JXoY• Take a look at this YouTube video about diet and brain function

• There are several foods that have been found to aid in memory retention

Repetition/Mnemonics

• Repeat what you know

• Revisit learned information often and you will be much less likely to foget

• Mnemonics are a great way to remember things.

• Association• Creativity

Exercise

• Those who exercise have been shown to have better memory and brain function than those who don’t.

• Cardiovascular exercise increases blood flow to the brain as well as

other organs and also relieves stress

Conclusion

• As you can see, there are many different things you can do to improve memory and to benefit your learning abilities.

• A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE!

Bibliography

• Association Between Mind-Body and Cardiovascular Exercises and Memory in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society; Oct2005, Vol. 53 Issue 10, p1754-1760, 7p, 3 http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=122&sid=2a86a63c-f7f1-4a55-abfd-69fb26002b02%40sessionmgr4&vid=14

• This source was an article from EBSCO that described the ways that exercise benefits brain function and memory. It had studies on adults who exercised and showed the results they found.

• Franzoi, Stephen L. “Essentials of Psychology” Thompson, 2008. “Memory” Ch 7, pp 244

• This Psychology textbook was a great reference for the topic, although I focused on things that weren’t really included. It had great technical explanations of short and long term memory.

• “Preserving and improving memory as we age” Harvard Women's Health Watch; Feb2010, Vol. 17 Issue 6, p1-3, 3p http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?hid=7&sid=2a86a63c-f7f1-4a55-abfd-69fb26002b02%40sessionmgr4&vid=12

• This is the source that I used the most, because it was the most relevant to what I wanted to focus on, in relation to ways to improve memory and brain activity. This source described things you can do such as keep learning, health, positive outlook, etc.