Improve Your Memory: Games To Improve Your Memory
November 28, 2008
To use memory improvement game to improve your memory, you first have to have an understanding of what memory is. There are actually several types of memory. There is the picture you hold in your mind of your first home. There is the knowledge that New York is called the Big Apple. There is the ability to ride a bike or knowing the face of the people you love. And there is the telephone number you learned just five minutes ago.
Amazingly all of these processes depend upon memory.
When a person memorizes a phone number that they dial and promptly forget they are using working memory. This type of memory is fragile and unless you commit the data to long-term memory the information is quickly gone. Researchers believe that you have the ability to easily remember 7 bits of data quickly but more than that is difficult. This is why you can remember the telephone number but need the credit card in front of you when you order online.
Long-term memory happens when you attach a new memory to another that has already been committed to memory. For instance the cell phone number of your neighbor is ‘attached’ to the memory of the face of your neighbor.
There are ways to improve memory ability by using games. One game to improve your memory is storytelling. Storytelling is a way to remember the information you need committed to long-term memory. The story connects the ideas and facts making them easier to recall. It also a way to increase participation which increases memory – as opposed to the use of a laundry list of items.
For instance, when you are storytelling you make up images of what is happening. This is also a very powerful technique to achieve your goals. Set your goal, tell it in a story of your life and ‘see’ yourself in the story. Use that story each day to commit this memory to long-term memory and increase the possibility that it will happen.
This can be a fun game to improve your memory when done with a group. Practice by laying out a group of items on the table and try to remember them. Each member takes a turn adding the object to the story. Once the objects are included in the story the objects are taken away and everyone sees who can remember the most objects.
Go Fish is another game to improve your memory that is fun to play alone or with friends. Use a standard deck of playing cards and remove 2 of the 4 suits. Leave yourself with 2 of each number and picture card. Now, with the 24 cards (making sure all have a match), place them face down on the floor or table. Move them around so you don’t know where each is located. One at a time pick up a card and then another trying to find the match. If there is no match put them back where they were and try again. This helps to improve your short-term memory. Time yourself to see how much faster you can do it each time.
Another inexpensive game to improve your memory is using a puzzle – but put it together without referring back to the picture on the box. Look at the picture first, giving yourself a couple of minutes; mix up the pieces and work on putting them back together.
In March 2007 Reuters news bureau reported that using computer games that are designed to help memory and cognitive function may be better than classic games at delaying age-related mental decline. There is a new group of games designed for older adults from Nintendo and Mattel, based on studies that show older people can improve their brains.
In a study at the University of California researchers studied 45 patients who had diagnosed mild cognitive impairment using either the Posit Science Brain Fitness program by Mattel or comparable computer-based tasks. The group using the Posit program had a significant improvement in visual spatial memory and a trend toward short-term and long-term memory improvement.
More research is showing that our cognitive abilities are not stagnant and that like a muscle if we don’t use it we lose it. Exercise your brain power and play some games to improve your memory!
Ways To Improve Memory: Memory Exercises
November 26, 2008
Because we are so much more complex than a computer adding a memory chip to our programs isn’t sufficient to improve our memories and cognitive functioning. The good news is that there are exercises and other ways to improve memory that are fun and have been shown to have beneficial effects.
In a study presented in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2000 researchers reported that initial evidence of improved working memory in patients with schizophrenia following cognitive exercises. The improvements were in verbal memory but not non-verbal memory.
Memory is the mental activity of recalling information that you acquired through learning or experience. Memory is either short-term or long-term. Short-term memories are stored for a few seconds or minutes – just long enough to compare prices at the store or dial the telephone number.
Long-term memory is information you make an effort to retain. It is meaningful in some way to you. It can be information about friends or family, material you are studying for a test, or something that made an impression on you such as a movie or the day your aunt died.
The areas of the brain that are important to the formation of memory are the hippocampus, amygdala and the cerebral cortex. In addition memory also involves the communication along the network of neurons using chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Your brain must first acquire the information, which happens only when you are paying attention. Then your brain consolidates the information for storage. In the retrieval portion of memory the brain activates the same pattern of nerve cells it used to store it. The more often you retrieve information the easier it becomes.
There are several ‘tricks’ to improving your memory. You can tailor the acquisition of the information to your learning style- visual, auditory or tactile. Involve as many of these senses as possible – even if you are a visual learner say or read the information out loud so it is also committed to auditory memory.
*You can relate the information to data you already know. In other words the name of a new person is the same as your neighbors. Rehearse the information as often is as needed.
You can activate your neurons to fire in patterns that are not triggered by procedural memory. In other words you can do things that normally you do without thinking in a way that forces the brain to work harder. Play these games to improve memory by asking the brain to work in ways it usually doesn’t. These ‘games’ include brushing your teeth with your non-dominant hand, showering with your eyes closed, and getting dressed in the dark. All activities that you would normally accomplish without thinking can be done in ways that make the task a bit harder thus making the neurons work harder.
You can also play games with information you want to remember by ‘attaching’ a visual image to the data, using the information in a sentence, putting the information into an acronym or rhyme or including the information in a joke. All of these games to improve short-term memory can be used to improve your cognitive skills as well. The best thing you can do is relax and have fun because stress and tension will only decrease your memory –just the opposite of what you intended!
Play Memory Games To Improve Your Memory
November 25, 2008
If your ability to memorize it not at the level it used to be or perhaps you already have a good memory but you desire to improve you abilities to memorize information for school or work or for other reasons try playing some memory games. You can play memory games for free online that are fun, challenging and can improve your memory skills. If you have trouble remembering things such as numbers or names or faces there are games that can help you with these tasks.
Play Memory Games- Download Free Online
Memorize the Digit Online game 01 will train you to improve your ability to remember numbers. Human brains think much better with pictures than numbers. Its easier to visualize a gorilla wearing a hat than visualize a series of numbers. This game will help you change a number into a word. In this game they convert the number three into a triangle and the number 5 into a star etc. Another game is called Simon online puzzle and the goal of this particular game is to help to remember a sequence of lights.
Play Memory Games- Eidetic Memory
Eidetic is defined as the capability of our memory to keep most of the details of a picture so that we can reproduce it without mistakes being made. This ability helps you recall and distinguish different types of things including human faces, things you see in a book or portions of a map. The Eidetic memory puzzle displays different items and shapes and then after a certain amount of time expires the items that were displayed on the screen are broken into multiple pieces and you have to be able to put the pieces back together and recreate the item you saw on you computer screen.
If you would prefer to play a memory game to improve your ability to remember faces try the Funny Face online flash game. The game will also improve your overall recognition skills and ability to memorize. This game is fun for school kids and will help their memory skills. You can create your own funny faces with this online game. Games that use music to help kids with their memories are also available online. Children have to try and memorize different melodies and then be able to recall them. Play memory games like these for free online and free downloading is also available. These games offer the opportunity to increase your memory skills and have fun at the same time. Most of the memory games are for the young and the old.
Improve Memory Skills
November 25, 2008
It seems like a blessing if someone has the capacity to recall information quickly and correctly. It is truly priceless in being successful in the professional as well as academic world. Although a lack in this ability doesn’t imply that the individual cannot have any success in his life, rather there are plenty of options available that one can use to enhance the memory skills. The important point to improve memory skills and student study skills is to implement the rightly designed tools in a well-structured fashion.
There is practically a wide variety of mind tools available for enhancing one’s memory skills quite extensively. With these fabulous mind tools, one needs to spend time practicing these techniques to get wonderful results. With an honest effort and sufficient practice, any one can be able to acquire a good memory. Even if someone doesn’t have sufficient time to specifically employ on practicing, these techniques are found useful in daily lives.
Mnemonics
Mnemonics refer to the technique to remember information that is not so easy remembering in normal situations. It is based on the idea of encoding difficult-to-remember information in a special way that is pretty easier-to-remember. A very simple example is VIBGYOR for remembering the colors in the rainbow. It is an excellent mind tool that can be used in various real life situations, especially at the time of an exam, in order to take advantage of effective implementation of memory skills.
Using the Whole Mind
The effective memory skills are the ability to encode information by using benefits of the whole mind. The key idea is to encode information using vibrant mental images that not only store information but also store the structure of information. This helps a lot in improving memory skills and it is a very successful feature to make mnemonics more reliable.
In order to do that, one may count on visualizing positive, pleasant images. It is mainly because sometimes the brain simply blocks the unpleasant memories. The mental images should contain brilliant colors as they are easier to remember comparing to the dull images. A three-dimensional visual image can be encoded faster than two-dimensional images.
Designing of Mnemonics
The three essential components governing the use of mnemonics include imagination, association, and position. Adding all three components in the mind, one is able to design powerful mnemonics in order to improve memory skills. Imagination is crucial to create and strengthen the links essential to design effective mnemonics. The more one can imagine, the more he can visualize, the more he can recall objects and events.
Memory associations is the method to link between one or more objects together. It helps in improving the ability to recall. Position offers two facets; a coherent context enables in positioning particular information in a specific segment of mind, while the other facet enables in differentiating between two or more mnemonics. By using all three components, effective mnemonics can be designed.
What You Need To Know About Memory Testers
November 25, 2008
A memory tester isn’t a professional who gives you a set of tests to discover how well your memory is doing and how to improve memory. Well, not yet anyway. When you look up just what a “memory tester” is, you’ll discover that it’s a piece of computer hardware that is used as a diagnostic tool in repairing computer memory. It is most likely what Gene Roddenberry was thinking of when he had the computers in Star Trek run “self-diagnostics.” This piece of hardware is a geek’s dream and is rather pricey (about $1000 US). The software (usually a CD of some sort) is much less expensive.
What’s The Point Of It?
If you do a lot of computer repair, you need to know if the computer’s memory is damaged or corrupted. The memory tester identifies how much memory is left, what is damaged and often can make repairs to the memory. There are software memory testers which you run through the motherboard, but they take hours to run. A separate piece of memory tester hardware speeds up the process and lasts for thousands of memory checks and memory skills.
Wait…What’s A Motherboard?
A computer’s motherboard is the main circuit board, where the mother lode of information is. (Geeks are very tongue in cheek with naming pieces of equipment). This is the main doo-dad that makes the computer go, in other words. Motherboards are called “logic boards” if you have an Apple computer instead of an IBM compatible one, just because Apple has to be different. Anyway, a motherboard is where a computer’s main memory is kept, hence a memory tester having to be hooked up or interact with it somehow.
Do you remember the film 2001: A Space Odyssey? Okay – remember the scene where Hal is saying “Dave…stop, Dave…my mind is going, I can feel it…” and the really ticked off astronaut Dave is yanking rectangles out of HAL the mad computer? Right – that entire area Dave was floating around in was HAL’s motherboard, and Dave was pulling out all of the memory.
So, Do I Need To Buy One?
If you are in the computer maintenance business, yeah, you definitely need a memory tester and mental images. If you have a business with a tech support department and a lot of computers working at the same time, consider investing in a memory tester for your poor tech support team. If, however, you are the average person with one or maybe two computers at home, you really don’t need to worry about getting a memory tester.
Improve Your Memory With Simple Strategies
November 23, 2008
Memory strategies or ways to improve your memory may seem like very complex procedures, and you may shy away from the whole process, just blaming the gazillion times you have misplaced your keys or forgotten to bring milk on your way home from work on your ‘poor memory’.
However, there are several fairly easy ways to improve your memory provided you have the willingness to do so. If you feel that memory loss is just a side effect of growing older and dismiss it, then memory strategies cannot really help you. However, if you take inspiration from older, wiser people who have very good memory despite being double your age, you can make a conscious effort to improve your memory.
Exercise Mind and Body
One of the simplest memory strategies is to lead a healthy lifestyle. Many research studies have shown that people that sleep well and eat a balanced diet have better memory. Those who exercise regularly pump more blood through the body and to the brain and hence have better ability to retain facts and figures. Conversely, people who live a lethargic lifestyle often put their retention ability ‘on hold’ and do not feel they can remember dates and numbers and names so they don’t even try.
Exercising your mind is also a great memory strategy by solving puzzles, playing games, reading and socializing. Sitting in front of the television cannot stimulate your brain as much as a book, a good conversation or a Sudoku puzzle can. If you have mastered a particular game, take it up a notch and go to more advanced levels so as to always challenge your brain and not let it be on rest mode
Associations
One of the most tried and tested memory strategy is to associate facts and figures with important events, pictures or other things so that you remember the memory associations even if you don’t remember the actual event. For instance if you always forget your daughter’s wedding anniversary, associate the day with a holiday. Say she got married the day after Thanksgiving or a week before Easter; try to rely on the association as a memory strategy that will keep you up to date.
Visual Clues
If you want help to remember something in the short term and do not have a piece of paper handy, try doing something unusual which when you’ll see that will remind you of the original thing. For instance, if you have to remember to buy eggs on your way home from work, put a piece of candy or rubber band or any odd thing in your wallet. When you open your wallet to take out your train card or pay toll, you’ll remember the eggs by seeing the piece of candy in an unusual place.
Memory Loss Treatment: Your Options
November 17, 2008
Memory loss is one of the most commonly complained about problems in the world. A lot of the time memory loss is normal, as everyone tends to forget things sometimes, but when it begins to cause problems in your life or disrupt your regular day to day activities then it is time for you to take it more seriously and find a solution to the problem.
Memory Loss Treatment
There are many options available when it comes to memory loss treatment and for improving memory. There are simpler things that you can do for memory loss treatment, including keeping lists, following routines, making associations with things in your mind, keeping detailed calendars, putting important things in places where you will remember or see them, and repeating names when you meet new people.
When your memory loss becomes more serious however then there are obviously more serious methods of memory loss treatment that you are going to have to use. First you have to determine if your memory loss is actually considered as being serious. If you sometimes have trouble forgetting names or what you wanted at the supermarket then you are probably okay, but if you have trouble remembering how to do regular things such as driving your car or using your computer, then you may have a much more serious problem.
It can often be quite difficult to determine if you have a serious memory loss problem or not on your own and so the best idea is to speak to your doctor about human memory facts. They will perform a few routine examinations in order to determine the severity of your memory loss and will also help show you where to go from there.
You may even have to be put on medication, at least for a certain period of time if you have more serious memory loss problems, and will then be exposed to much stronger methods of memory loss treatment. You can also incorporate other things to help with your memory loss. For instance you can start doing crossword and jigsaw puzzles or playing trivia games, all of this will help and you should notice results almost immediately.
Although it should not frighten you, it is important to know that even short term memory loss is often the sign of something much more serious, such as Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. This is why it is so important to keep your health in check so that if you are in the early stages of a memory skills disease like this you will be able to get the proper treatment as soon as possible.
Facts Worth Knowing Related To Why A Person Suffers From Memory Loss
November 16, 2008
You would be surprised to learn that there are a number of factors that can be considered as being the cause behind memory loss and mistaken identity, and among them, depression ranks very high, because with it, a person loses his/her ability to perform mental processes properly and thus lose their memory in the process. Furthermore, this condition can only get worse when it is left untreated, especially if its cause was depression, while another cause that is very similar to depression is stress.
Stress Too, Can Cause A Loss Of Memory
It has been found that people under a great deal of stress tend to lose their memory, and that once they get over their stressful conditions, their memory shows signs of improvement once more. Even medication can induce this lapse, or it could also occur due to side effects of drugs such as barbiturates or even benzodiazepines, which requires giving up these drugs to stop further memory loss.
Another factor that plays a part in inducing memory loss is Alzheimer’s disease and in fact this disease is a major cause of memory loss, and it is characterized by much loss of memory though in different degrees, which of course depends on the stage of the disease. It has been found that in the initial stages of Alzheimer’s disease, there is frequent loss of memory and towards the end; it even becomes difficult for the patient to remember the names of their own family members.
Aging too is an important reason why persons suffer from memory loss, though according to recent studies, it was found that people as old as ninety and beyond were not greatly bothered by memory loss, and even that with age, mental processes could in fact improve. If a person is an alcoholic, it could lead to memory loss since the alcohol will destroy nerves and even otherwise, alcohol is bad for the nervous system and it will adversely affect the mental processes; besides the memory, and to not lose your memory in this way, obviously, you will need to consume little or no alcohol.
Memory loss also comes about due to many other reasons including seizures, strokes, injuries to the head, brain tumors and also infections in the brain, and to determine whether you have memory loss, it may require undergoing temporal brain surgery. No doubt, there are many causes of memory loss that are preventable, though others will occur in any case, and what causes your memory loss will ultimately determine the speed at which you suffer from this condition. To treat the condition, it may be a good idea to consume ginkgo biloba, and there are other drugs available in the market as well to help your memory.
Some Of The Different Methods Used For Memory Improvement
November 15, 2008
Today, there is a lot of research being undertaken to better understand and help your memory that includes finding out the locations of memory, and this is something that is of special interest to those with inquiring minds. The earlier knowledge that we had concerning memory showed us that the location of memory was on the brain and brain stem and also above our spinal cords. However, with present day technology such as Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) as well as Electro encephalogram or EEG, the location of memory is more exactly established especially with regard to the exact location on the brain and brain stem.
Learn Online
By studying the brain in so much detail, it has shown us that there is a lot of scope to understand how memory improvement can be achieved, and all it needs is to apply the right memory techniques that can range from the very simple to the very sophisticated. You can easily learn the training steps that can even are learnt by studying training material, and there is even online training software available in this regard.
The first method you can use in improve your memory is basic mnemonics that anyone can apply absolutely immediately; though, it is also a good idea to first practice them, and the different mnemonics are based on association and elaborations, and it may be noted that elaboration gives more meaning to words, while in the case of association, two words should be joined together in your memory.
Another very simple method that can be applied with regard to memory improvement is Peg mnemonics, and in this form of memory improvement, peg words are associated with any of the digits starting from one and ending with ten. Among the common Peg mnemonics are rhyming Peg system, shape Peg system and alphabet Peg system as too calendar peg system.
You can also use advanced mnemonics for memory improvement tips though this method takes up more time and a minimum of two hours along with time for regularly practicing is required. However, with this method of memory improvement, the payback is considerable and thus well worth putting in extra effort, and with these methods, you can easily then remember lists with more than hundred items on them. Another better known such memory improvement method is the one known as Phonetic Mnemonic that is applicable for numbers starting with zero and ending with one hundred, and even higher.
The Best Memory Improvement Games
November 15, 2008
You can improve both your short and long-term memory skills by participating in certain memory improvement games, and studies actually show that people are able to learn memory techniques faster and retain them longer when the training involves task-specific practice, such as with memory improvement games.
Try These Out
There are literally hundreds of different memory improvement games that you can choose from, as they are very popular these days because so many people are so concerned with getting their memory back. One of the most important things to remember is that you need to have fun with these memory improvement games, and rather than being depressed or sad about your memory loss you need to stay positive and optimistic and this will carry you through and dramatically increase your progress.
Pexeso: Matching Pairs
This is one great improving memory game that you should definitely add to your repertoire here. It is very simple and involves the matching pairs of cards from a large group. The basic point here is that when you turn one card over if you do not find a match for it you have to turn them face down again but remember which card was where, and this helps to improve your memory.
You play this game using a standard deck of cards, but you can also use tiles that have pictures or numbers on them, as long as there is at least one other tile that matches each. Start by laying out about 24 of the cards or tiles face down, making sure that the 24 cards consists of 12 matched pairs. Once you have them face down you need to move them around so that you are sure you do not know where each card is located.
Now you just turn one card over at a time and try to find the card’s mate. This is not only one of the most effective memory improvement games but as well one of the most enjoyable and definitely one to try out first.
Trivia Quizzes
This is another great option for improve short term memory game, and the best part of all is that you can make the trivia about anything, from movies, television and history to food and culture. Trivia is also great because you can play it with a large group of people, so you can sit around with your family and friends and make this memory improvement game the highlight of the night.
