Techniques for memory training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In our research, we study the different groups of people who have a superior memory. For instance, we look into \u2018memory athletes\u2019, people who can remember very long lists of names or numbers, and can perform at this level on competitive shows. These are often normal individuals like you and I, but they have trained extensively with \u2018mnemonic techniques\u2019 (from the old Greek \u2018mnemon\u2019, which means remember or memory). Thses techniques are the so-called \u2018method of loci\u2019 or the \u2018memory palace\u2019. With this technique, athletes associate the various names or numbers that they want to remember with specific locations within an area they know well. That way, you can engrave the relevant dates (as you are \u2018cramming\u2019 for that important history exam, for instance!), deep into your memory, using an image of your own kitchen. 476, the fall of the Roman Empire, is down in the winerack, 1492 is situated on the spice rack, when Columbus \u2018discovered\u2019 America, and the French Revolution of 1789 finds itself in the breadbasket where you cut your baguettes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u2018method of loci\u2019 or the \u2018memory palace\u2019 is a mnemonic technique that can help you to improve your memory. With this technique, you associate a familiar location (such as your own home), with facts within a certain collection of knowledge (think of subjects at school). Images and further instructions can be found here: https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Build-a-Memory-Palace<\/a> .<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to retain information is to find associations with things you already know. For instance, to remember a word that sounds difficult: Like the brain region Hippocampus, <\/em>which is important to memory formation. To help with memorizing this, you might see in your head a group of very hip memory researchers camping, so that \u201chip\u201d and \u201ccamp\u201d help to remember Hippocampus. Often, people who just generally seem to remember better, might often make such associations subconsciously, without realizing they are aiding their memory. The recall of dates or a word (such as \u2018Hippocampus\u2019<\/em>) falls under semantic <\/em>memories: it concerns factual knowledge (of areas in the brain, in this case).<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are also people that have a superior episodic <\/em>memory: they call recall minute details of their personal experience from the past with ease. When they look at a whiteboard, they not only see what is written at that moment. They also see what was written on it last time they saw that whiteboard. Or some time before that. Our episodic memory usually declines with age. This occurs, in extremes, with Alzheimer\u2019s disease, but it is also a normal aspect of natural aging of the brain. However, there is a small group of elderly, so- called Super-agers<\/em>, that do not seem to suffer from this decline and exhibit an excellent, lasting memory. At the moment, we are researching the secret behind these \u2018super-agers\u2019. A large part of their talent is hidden withing their DNA, but also within their daily upkeep of their memory over the years. As such, it is with much training and an active use of their memory capacity that they maintain this ability. Memory exercises strengthen the connection between brain cells and therefore strengthen the networks in our brain. If you want to know more about the connectivity between brain cells and how they contribute to memory, you can read our earlier article about it here<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As such, there are people who seem to have won the DNA lottery and naturally remember things better than others. But, through the study of \u2018memory athletes\u2019 and \u2018super-agers\u2019, we know that training and the active use of your memory can also make a big difference in how well you remember things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Build-a-Memory-Palace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/books\/page-turner\/the-mystery-of-s-the-man-with-an-impossible-memory<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Different kinds of memory Memory is a broad term. Some people think they have a bad memory because they forget names and facts very easily. That kind of memory is called semantic memory. These same people could, conversely, easily remember … Lees verder![\"\"](\"https:\/\/brainhelpdesk.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/image-34.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSuper-agers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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