SCIENCE

Would you like to have a super memory? Here are the strategies the mind uses to remember

The different types of memory and their relation to training techniques. There are various types of memory, which fall into about fifteen categories. These types of memory range from procedural memory, which is used to remember sequences of gestures, to prospective memory, which helps us plan future actions. It is important to note that these different forms of memory are like watertight compartments: a person who excels in one type of memory will not necessarily have the same abilities in the other types. Moreover, training one specific form of memory does not automatically lead to an improvement in the others.

Attention plays a key role in the improvement of all memory types. Taking advantage of every useful opportunity can make all the difference. 

For example, when we need to call someone, instead of pressing the send button from the mobile phone's address book, we can try to type in the numbers while keeping them in mind. We can also repeat a news story to several people, trying to enrich the story with details, to enhance verbal memory. Also, associating names with people's faces can be another useful exercise. It is essential to pay attention to what we want to remember, as attention is the pathway through which information reaches the brain. If we are not attentive, we will not be able to retain anything.

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The importance of attention in memory enhancement
Attention plays a key role in improving all types of memory. To enhance memory, it is essential to pay attention to what we want to remember. Attention is the pathway through which information travels to reach the brain. If we are not attentive, we will not be able to retain anything. Taking advantage of every opportunity is crucial for memory training. For example, when we have to make a phone call to someone, we can try typing the numbers in our head instead of pressing the send button from the mobile phone's address book. We can also repeat a news story to several people, trying to enrich the story with details, to enhance verbal memory. Also, associating names with people's faces can be another useful exercise.
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The game of associations
The association process plays a key role in remembering information. Reading a word alone has a 10% probability of retrieval. However, if we associate that word with a similar one, the probability of remembering it rises to 40%. When we process information more deeply, correlating emotions or other thoughts, the chance of recalling it increases to 70%. Therefore, to remember information, it is necessary to process it, making meaningful connections and associations.
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The five strategies for improving memory
There are five basic strategies that the mind innately uses to remember information. These strategies are: - Associating data with others to remember it better.  - Categorisation to group similar information together. - Concatenation of words in a story. - Visualisation of concepts through images. - Construction of mental scenes. Keeping these strategies trained can contribute to memory enhancement and improvement of memory skills.
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Lifestyle and maintenance of cognitive ability
Lifestyle plays a significant role in maintaining good cognitive abilities throughout life. A Chinese study published in the 'British Journal of Medicine' identified six different lifestyles important for maintaining cognitive health. In order of importance, these lifestyles are: - Nutrition: following a proper diet, mainly based on the principles of the Mediterranean diet. - Gym for the mind: engage in cognitive activities such as writing, reading and playing cards to keep cognitive abilities active. - Exercise: engage in regular physical activity. - Social contacts: maintain a good level of social activity. - Avoid smoking. - Avoid excessive alcohol consumption, as the higher the consumption, the greater the risk to neurological health.
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Curiosity about closing the eyes to enhance memory
A study conducted by the University of Surrey revealed that closing one's eyes for a brief moment can help the brain avoid distractions and improve recall. Study participants who closed their eyes achieved a 70% correct response rate, compared to the 40% correct response rate achieved by the sample who kept their eyes open. This shows how a simple action such as closing one's eyes can affect the accuracy of recall by reducing external interference and focusing more on the information to be memorised.
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