About Memory Training

What Wonderful Things Can Memory Training Do

The human brain is a very complex and independent organ.  The brain is continually adapting to change, all the while, absorbing new information throughout the day.  Since the organ is so independent, it will store the new data, where it wants to, unless otherwise directed.  Teaching the brain to store the information in a specific location, for easy retrieval is called memory training.     

People do not have “bad memories” or “good memories” but rather trained memories.  Whenever you learn something new, like a name, phone number or a favorite event in your life occurs, the information is stored in your knowledge bank.  Information that is stored in the knowledge bank is permanent.  However, retrieving the information is not always easy.  As we get older, words don’t always come as easy.  Or recalling a phone number may seem nearly impossible. But there are several techniques that can help with memory. 

Memory training can be useful to people of all ages.  However, it appears to be most useful in people who suffer from memory loss, such as people with Alzheimer’s. Memory training is especially useful for providing therapy to individuals with memory impairment, especially for persons with memory deficits secondary to brain injury, stroke or mild cognitive impairment.

Your emotional state has a large impact on your memory skills.  People with a cheerful, positive disposition, will learn more and retain the information more easily.  However, people who suffer from depression or have a negative outlook, are less likely to retain information.  A poor emotional state reduces a person's power to focus their attention. Paying attention is key to remembering anything.

There are several ways to improve your memory.   Make your exposure to the information multi-sensory.  And although each person has a different way of taking in information, the more senses that are stimulated, the more of an impression it will leave on you. 

Another approach to improving memory is to engage the subconscious mind with art or music.  Art and music stimulates the subconscious mind, where memories are stored. By using art or music in your memorization exercises, you can open the doorway to your subconscious and noticeably boost your retention. Some ways to do this are to create or listen to the information in song.

Try reviewing the information right before you go to bed and again right after your get up. When you sleep, your mind synthesizes information. By making sure you’ve reviewed it right before you go to sleep, you’re putting the information on the forefront of the mind. When you sleep, your brain will be more likely to file that information away into long term memory. When you wake up and review that information again, you will refresh the memory. These are two powerful steps to getting that information into your long-term memory.

So if you suffer from memory loss, there are steps you can take to improve it.   By training the mind to work differently and more effectively, you are helping it to retain vital information and retrieve it later on.  If one technique does not work for you, do not give up all hope.  Simply try another technique or a combination of techniques.