“Memory expands our world. Without it, life would lack continuity, and in the morning we would see a stranger in the mirror. Each day would be an isolated episode; we could not learn from the past or foresee the future. ”
There are birds that remember where they stored seeds months ago, and squirrels remember where they bury their nuts. We, on the other hand, forget after a while where we left the keys.
The human brain, weighing almost a kilo and a half and the size of a grapefruit, has about 100 billion neurons, which form an extremely complex network. In fact, one neuron may be connected to 100,000 others. These connections give the brain the ability to process and retain large amounts of data.
How to improve it
The memory process is divided into three phases: encoding, storage, and retrieval.
If we want to store information for longer… Here are some recommendations.
▪ Take an interest in the subject and remind yourself of the reasons why you should assimilate it. As you will surely know from your own experience, memory receives greater stimuli if feelings are at stake.
▪ Attention "Most 'memory lapses' are actually due to inattention". When possible, take notes. The advantage of notes is that, in addition to serving to fix the mind on an issue, they can be reviewed later.
▪ Comprehension If we don't understand a concept, we have a harder time remembering it. With understanding, relationships are established between the different parts of a concept and are united until they form a logical whole. For example, if an automotive mechanics student understands how an engine works, he or she will better remember the parts that make it up.
▪ Organization Similar concepts should be classified (a shopping list can be divided into meats, fruits, vegetables, etc.). In addition, information must be grouped into blocks of no more than five to seven elements (telephone numbers can be divided two by two). It's also helpful to sort items in some way, perhaps alphabetically.
▪ Repeat verbal Suppose we are learning another language. Saying a word forces us to notice how it is said. Receiving some correction from a teacher and listening and repeating the word again will cause us to be recorded, since other mechanisms of our brain are activated. In short, repeating aloud what we want to remember strengthens neural connections.
▪ Visualization It can also be helpful to draw, sketch or form a mental image of what you want to remember. Like verbal repetition, visualization activates various parts of the brain. The more senses we use, the better the data will be recorded.
▪ Association When we learn something new, we must associate it with what we already know. If we link new ideas with stored memories, it will be easier for us to encode and retrieve information, because the association will serve as a clue. For example, to remember someone's name, we can relate it to a certain feature of their appearance or to anything else we can think of. The more absurd and funny the association is, the easier it will be to remember. In short, we must think about the people and things we want to remember.
▪ Consolidation We must allow time for the information to be processed, for us to get deep, so to speak. One of the best methods is to review what you learn, perhaps explaining it to someone else. So if you have had a good experience or read something entertaining, tell someone. Thus, both will benefit: you will record it in your memory, and the person who listens to you will receive encouragement. No wonder repetition is the mother of retention.
