Improving your memory. 6

[Grenage]

There are quite a few people here who seem to have a very good memory, does anyone have any tips or exercises on improving it? Mine is absolutely terrible.

Not so much 'party trick' memory feats, but rather storing and recalling things, in our day to day lives.

I Just hope I remember to check the thread for replies. /wink

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
I'll have to rememebr that, Dave..
I usually say my last name as
Greco, like Jose -
I expect some day to be introduced as John Cuervo..





To Paraphrase:"The Help you get is proportional to the Help you give.."

 

[Welshbird]

An elderly couple are sitting on a park bench enjoying the sunshine. The husband turns to his wife and says - 'Would you like a sandwich?'
'Yes please!' she replies, 'but you'd better write it down. You know how bad your memory has become. I'd like a BLT'
'No' he says. 'I'll remember - I promise'.
Twenty minutes later he appears with two icecreams.
'I KNEW this would happen' she cries. 'I wanted a 99!'

My Mum and Dad found it funny at least....

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[Trevoke]

I'm with jebenson - a bit of living in the moment and focusing on exactly what is happening helps me remember. If I get to a party and I'm introduced to 10 people in the room, or if I need to remember a string of things, here is how I do it..

( don't laugh )
( please )
( it works for me! )

... I make a linked list in my head with the first node being the first thing I hear and then I just traverse it in my mind....

Tao Te Ching Discussions : Chapter 5 (includes links to previous chapters)

 

[kjv1611]

Trevoke,

So, basically instead of just "tossing a bunch of files in a folder", you basically "enter all the data in a table hierarchy." That way, the data is sortable, and easy to find. Sounds logical - now, whether I'd actually get myself to do something like that is another story. :0)

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Grenage]

Trouble is, that makes it an artificial memory system (I think that's what they're called). Similar to mentally walking through a house and placing items, words or numbers in the rooms. You can remember an impressive amount of information this way, but It's allegedly detrimental to your natural memory system, or at least not as likely to be stored in the long term.

I've been having a little success, after some reading. It will take a lot longer to see real results, but I've noticed some minor improvements already.

The real key (for me at least) seems to be in linking the information to other pieces of information. For example, when I am told something, I now think "where did that information come from, what would it be useful for, how does it relate to what I already know". I know that sounds a bit retarded, but it seems to help. I think this is called 'memory through association'.

I also read that it can help a lot, depending on how many senses the information is received through. For example, if you hear the information, as well as see it, there is a double sense impression which can improve the chances of it being memorized. That was probably obvious to everyone but me #blush#. Some people apparently have better memory through hearing, seeing, touching or tasting, according to their occupation or lifestyle. For example, a wine taster might have a sense of taste which is better for memory impressions that his 'less used' senses. Same for musicians and hearing, apparently.

So basically, in my language studies, I've been writing words down, and reading them out loud. Paying attention is also a big factor.

I'm not sure how much of the information out there is actually mad rubbish (probably most of it), so I've just been trying to make use of that which seems more logical.

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[Lunatic]

So basically, in my language studies, I've been writing words down, and reading them out loud. Paying attention is also a big factor.

This is good. Good teachers know there are several different types of memory and different people learn better with different types.

The most common groupings I know of (there are always variations) are:
Oral - Listening to something and remembering it.
Verbal - Reciting something and remembering it.
Visual - Seeing something and remembering it.
Physical - Doing something and remembering it.

Even if you are much better at learning something one way than another, this doesn't mean that you don't learn that way. Personally, I learn much better through doing something (physical) than listening/reading to something (oral/visual). For me to understand something I need to see the relevence. Explaining a theory to me doesn't help me much if I can't relate to it.

But... This doesn't mean the other types of learning aren't contributing. This is why good teachers will do something like, write something on the board and say it at the same time. Have you read it, and then copy/complete it.

So even if you're like me and doing helps you learn the most, you reinforce that through the other techniques.

So in your case, you're combining several types of learning together when you write, read, and recite the item.

This most certainly is not junk. Have you figured out which way you learn best? If you find that writing something helps you learn the best, then tailor your exercies to maximize the amount of writing you perform, but don't ignore the other elements.

***

Additionally, there is also the idea of just training your brain. Playing chess, checkers, go, or any other strategy game helps build your minds capacity. Apparently Sodoku is supposed to be really good for this (it drives me bonkers).

Eating fish is another way, apparently there is something in the muscle or fat of fish that is utilized in brain cells, so having fish a couple of times a week is like taking 'vitiams for the brain', at least thats what I've gleaned from the snipets around.

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[Trevoke]

Well, it's an interesting topic for me, in any case. I have a naturally very good memory - for things I understand. They get catalogued and cross-referenced.

I started learning a new bo kata (a martial arts form using a staff) recently and I'm having trouble with barely the first ten moves - because I haven't found how it makes sense to move that way. Everything I remember is active in my mind - whether via purpose or something else..

Tao Te Ching Discussions : Chapter 5 (includes links to previous chapters)

 

[mjldba]

My daughter has struggled with certain subjects and, even after working with a tutor, asking for (and completing) extra assignments, and working with the teacher(s) rather than taking a study hall period, she still struggles.

I told her that, IMHO, the single, most important facet of learning is discovering the best way for YOU to learn. Thanks you lunatic for listing the various methods.

I asked her how she learned the words to her favorite song, did she ever see the words in print? Doubt it ... she heard them repeatedly and repeated them either mentally or out loud.

I think it's a shortcoming of our educational system that no one helps our children learn how to learn.

Personally, I learn athletic moves (like golf) by watching others and reviewing video in slow motion because reading never helped. I retain the most info when I read something aloud & repeat as many times as necessary. When meeting people I try to use their names a few times in conversation, I try to associate the names of a couple, and, sorry to say, I make somewhat of an immediate determination if I find them interesting ... bad me.

Occasionally in school, I rewrote my notes over and over again until I knew them as well as my home address. There were times that I'd be taking a test and I could close my eyes and see the pages in a book or the text of my notes, it was like cheating but I couldn't call it up on demand.
When it worked though .... cool!!

Bottom line, I don't have much to offer other than everyone must determine what works best for them.

 

[2ffat]

I have a very poor memory, esp. when it comes to names. I have to write everything down and keep track on my notes if I need to remember anything. I've never found a system that really works for me and I've tried several methods and read numerous books. I just can't remember certain things.

My wife, on the other hand, is exceptional when it comes to spelling and phone numbers.



James P. Cottingham
-----------------------------------------
^{I'm number 1,229!
I'm number 1,229!}

 

[Grenage]

Hi, Lunatic.

I'm don't any meat, so no fish for me. /wink

I'm not sure how I remember things best, yet. I suspect it's the act of writing/typing, but I cannot be sure since my attention span is so terrible, I can completely switch off within a second of starting to look at something.

I guess attention is something you have to train, too.

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[Lunatic]

Grenage...

With your attention span being less than ideal... Maybe you could record your 'homework' and listen to it in the car on your way to work or at other times?

Also, have you checked yourself for wheat and dairy allergies? Sometimes these allergies can have no outward displays but can do things inside that cause small issues, such as minor attention issues, to become large issues.

I've seen a diet change away from wheat and dairy have amazing effects on children's attention spans.

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[Grenage]

It's funny you should mention that. I had irritable bowel syndrome for the first time, about two months ago, and the only thing I had had differently was some sort of weird new porridge (I had a fair few bowls) through the week.

I don't know what was in it, but maybe I should try and find out. I've never really had an allergic reaction to anything before. Dairy I would have a hard time avoiding, since I do eat a lot of eggs.

Then again, I am probably clutching at straws here, looking for an easy excuse for my poor state of mind. Thank you for the tip though, worth checking out!

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[KenCunningham]

Good luck Grenage. Reading your post, it's strange how 'dairy' includes eggs isn't it?

I want to be good, is that not enough?

 

[Grenage]

Bloody hell, I actually had to check the definition of dairy. I've always thought that 'dairy' was any product made from milk or egg. I've thought that all my life, well until you said that.

Don't I feel silly?

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[Lunatic]

Grenage

The wheat and dairy allergies (Gluten and Casein) is a bit of a stretch in all likilihood, but it really is just a simple blood-draw allergy test (IG Rast allergy test) that is needed (not the poke your back 50 times).

The 'outbreak' of the allergy in the case of wheat and dairy is often not visible. There are no hives or rashes, and even no non-normal bowel movements. What happens is the intestines become irritated and since wheat and dairy are so prevelent in diet, it becomes the 'norm' the person is used to.

However the body is constantly on edge because of this constant irritation which leads to an amplification of other things, like short attention spans becoming shorter.

Predominately this is being looked at in conjunction with autism, but I've seen it work on non-autistic children as well, including many times with children who are ADD/ADHD or non-diagnosed but show similar habits.

It won't be a silver bullet, but it could help.

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[Grenage]

We are well informed, aren't we! Should it be Dr.Lunatic? The name might instill some fear in your patients.

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[Lunatic]

Nay... no medical school here. Though that would be a fun sign to put up ;-p

My mom is a teacher and I've volunteered and worked in her classroom (and other classrooms) for 15 years or so.

That makes for a lot of dinner-time conversations and in-classroom conversations on techinques and new research. New research is a big thing with her because she has seen so many of the new ideas succeed in her classroom.

If I wasn't so ambitious in my goals I probably would have ended up as a teacher myself (though not English, everyone can breath a sign of relief). The effect of this is I do have an interest in learning all I can about the process of learning. Maybe when I retire... ;-p

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[Grenage]

Well, I don't think we can have too many good teachers!

Carlsberg don't run I.T departments, but if they did they'd probably be more fun.

 

[AlexCuse]

I have trouble not remembering things, and oddly enough it causes me problems. For example, this morning I thought 'Hey, it is Friday, I need to take the trash out' just as I was going down the steps to the kitchen. But about halfway down the steps I started thinking 'oh man, its Friday, that means I have to do x, y and z at work'. Next thing I knew, I heard the garbage truck outside as I was eating breakfast and I had not taken out the trash.

Its very odd. I remember everything, but not necessarily at the right time? What the heck do you call a problem like this?

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom

 

[Lunatic]

I remember everything, but not necessarily at the right time? What the heck do you call a problem like this?

A pacemaker for the brain?

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum