remember all the words in the list. You’ll be able to recall most of the words at the
beginning, some at the middle, and a few at the end. These effects are known as primacy
(words at the beginning) and recency (words at the end).
The only way that a normal person can effectively recall all of the words in the list, is
if he applies a mnemonic technique to help him remember. You’ll also find that it’s easier
to recall a word if it’s repeated several times in the list, or if it’s related to the other words in
any way, or if it stands out among the other words (for example, the word “ruby” will stand
out from a list of vegetables).
To take advantage of your primacy and recency, you must find a middle ground. If
you are doing something that requires a lot of thinking and you do this non-stop for hours,
you’ll find that the dip in the recall between the primacy and recency can be quite
considerable.
If, on the other hand, you stop to take breaks too often, your brain will not really
reach its primacy because it keeps on getting interrupted. In a more practical application,
instead of continuously studying or working for hours, you might want to try pausing and
resting after 30-50 minutes of working, just to give your brain time to refresh itself and to
maximize the time when your primacy and recency are balanced.
_____________________________________________________________ Contrary to popular belief, being smart is not synonymous to having a good
memory or good retention. You don’t have to force yourself to study and understand more
in order to improve your memory; the key is actually in your lifestyle, your attitude, your diet, and your habits.
requires a very specific type of nutrition from your diet. It shouldn’t be surprising then that
your diet affects how your brain performs, and it performs well with a steady supply of
glucose. Before you go out of your house in the morning, it would be great if you can give
your brain the fuel it needs by eating a hearty breakfast. A salad packed full of
antioxidants, including beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, should also help keep your
brain in tip-top condition by helping to reduce damaging free radicals (damaging
molecules). As you grow older, your brain has lesser capacity to defend itself from daily
threats like free radicals, inflammation, and oxidation. That’s why aging people need more
nutrition than younger ones.
Free radicals are like cavities to your teeth; they slowly build up if they’re not
cleaned out. As the brain cells grow older, they sometimes stop communicating with each
other. As an effect, it slows down essential processes like thinking, short-term memory
retrieval, and regenerating new cells. Therefore, anti-oxidants are essential to maintain
not only good health, but a good memory as well. Good sources of anti-oxidants are:
• Vitamin A and beta-carotene: Carrots, spinach, cantaloupe, winter squash
_____________________________________________________________
• Vitamin C: Citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, tomatoes
• Vitamin E: Nuts, seeds, vegetable oil, wheat germ
Studies show that fatty food that causes artheosclerosis (clogging of arteries) are
also the same type of food that disrupts neural activities. Cut back on the fat and replace it
with foods rich in anti-oxidants. Nothing will replace a well-balanced meal, but to make
sure that your body doesn’t lack any of its nutritional needs, it would be a good idea to take
food supplements. As the name implies, they’re supplements, and not replacements.
Scientific research also indicates that eating fish can indeed sharpen your memory.
Most fish fat contains the polyunsaturated fatty acid DHA, which performs a significant
part in the brain development of young children. Tests show that kids who consume
adequate foods containing DHA score better on IQ tests than those who take lesser
amounts of DHA. Fish also contains omega-3 fatty acids which opens up new
communication centers in the brain’s neurons. This allows your mind to operate at its peak
performance.
Another significant finding suggests that smoking can affect the ability of the brain
to process information properly. Chain smokers have higher risks of impairing their visual
and verbal memories. So the next time you think of smoking, remember that it’s not only
dangerous to your health, but you are sacrificing your memory functions as well.
Caffeine and alcohol causes anxiety and nervousness. This may hamper
information from properly entering your mind because memory works best when you are
relaxed and focused. _____________________________________________________________
hormones” like cortisol, which damages brain cells. Make it a point to do something that
will relax you everyday. Try meditating, yoga, drinking tea, taking a long bath … whatever
works for you. A very effective method to reduce stress is deep breathing and visualizing
the expected outcome of any situation to turn out well. Don’t forget to get enough rest.
Poor memory is often a result of poor self-image. After all, it all starts and ends in
the mind. So to have a healthy mind, believe that you can achieve anything you desire.
Boost your self-esteem and be confident in your abilities. Your attitude should be
supportive of your goals.
Cardiovascular exercises like walking improves blood circulation and are good for
the heart and brain. Research also indicates that walking helps release hormones that aid
in regenerating new brain cells. If you’re bored with just plain walking, engage into sports
that you love. Play basketball, volleyball, tennis, or anything that excites you. By
exercising, you can lessen your chances of developing high blood pressure which
contributes to memory loss when you get older. So get up and get moving. Not only will
you be getting a fit and healthy body, but you’ll also sharpen your memory and improve
your creativity. Not to mention the fun and camaraderie you’ll be getting with your
teammates and competitors.
Just like any muscle, you also need to exercise your brain so that it doesn’t
deteriorate. Engage in games that will help you think. Talk to people, read informational
books, listen to educational tapes, and make it a habit to continuously learn and
_____________________________________________________________ experience new things. Remember that when your neurons die, they don’t come back to
life anymore. So you better use them, or you’ll lose them.
If you feel that your memory really isn’t how it used to be, go and see a physician.
Sometimes, memory loss can be a symptom of more serious diseases and can go undetected for years because you don’t really feel anything else other than memory loss.
their backgrounds and personal history when there was music playing in the clinical area
than in silence, during an experiment conducted by Elizabeth Valentine, a psychologist at
the University of London and co-author of new research on music and memory.
Increasingly, music is accompanying traditional medical therapies to help people
heal faster. Experts say music has the power to calm and to energize the spirit.
The British researchers conducted a test on 23 people (ages 68 to 90) with mild
dementia. The test was done with different sounds playing in the background.
While asking the questions, the researchers either played: a familiar tune (Winter,
from Vivaldi's Four Seasons), novel music (Hook, by Fitkin), or pre-recorded cafeteria
noise - or asked the questions in stillness. Over four weeks, each person was tested in all
four situations.
The participants answered more questions correctly with sound in the background
rather than in silence, and they scored even better when music was playing.
_____________________________________________________________ “Whether the music was familiar or new did not seem to matter. The music probably aroused the participants and helped them focus,” the researchers said.
you will go to sleep right after learning it. But there are two limits:
1. The material that you intend to recall should be easy to understand, or you should
already have a fair amount of knowledge or experience in the topic being
discussed.
2. You must not be too tired or exhausted when reading the material.
The next time you need to learn something, try this procedure and see if it works for you. It worked for me!
process of learning and memory retention. Music has been said to affect learning and
memory in psychologically-challenged patients. On the other hand, internal factors such
as feelings and emotions should also be considered in retrieving data or in decoding
stored information in your brain.
The creation of a good mood in producing better temper, positive outlooks, or even
in relaxation are very popular nowadays in creating a holistic approach in wellness and
mental health. The balance between mind and body and the conditioning that happens
_____________________________________________________________ inside your brain may affect your acquisition of knowledge and information. That is why, it
is very important to have a good mood in perceiving, receiving, and retrieving emotional
as well as mental information.
Here are some of the valuable tips or techniques in mood conditioning that will
definitely help you improve your mental capacities.
1. Close your eyes and repeat a chant that will help you recall a picture, a scenario
or a very relevant experience. You can also do this by repeating a very positive
statement like: “No matter what you say or do to me, I’m still a worthwhile
person!” Remembering such words can also boost confidence during exams or
in periods of learning or even in daily struggles. By saying positive things
regarding your life, you are increasing the chances of associating your
experience with pleasant feeling, and this would help you remember more of
the good things than the bad ones that could lead you down.
2. Imagine a face of someone who has put you down in some ways in the past
(e.g. a family member, a teacher, a friend, or an ex lover). After getting the
picture of his or her face, say, “No matter what you say or do to me, I’m still a
worthwhile person!” This would relieve you and put you into a positive
consciousness in dealing with people or strangers. Mental pictures can also
relieve you from the stress brought about by bad or traumatic experiences.
3. There are physical ways of improving mood or the place where learning has to
take place. Scented candles, aromatic objects, or the creation of illusion of
relaxation (with the use of verdant or calmed colors such as pastel, earth tones,
_____________________________________________________________ or non-solid shades) are some of the practical ways in helping you to relax while
learning or acquiring knowledge or information. In uncontrolled environments
which require spontaneous reaction, it would still be best to create mental
pictures (imagining the blueness and calmness of the sea, or the very
refreshing scene of a green countryside) while undertaking learning tasks or
actions. _____________________________________________________________