WHY WE FORGET AND HOW TO BOOST YOUR MEMORY.

          Memory lapses can be both embarrassing and troubling. But a few slipups don’t necessarily doom you to a future of utter forgetfulness. A memory is made by linking two or more of the 100 billion nerve cells in your brain, called neurons, then solidifying the connection so you can use it later, says Neal Barnard, an adjunct associate professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine, in Washington, D.C. And “your brain continues to develop neurons and build new connections to strengthen memory as you age, a phenomenon called neuroplasticity,” says Brianne Bettcher, a neuropsychology fellow at the University of California, San Francisco, Memory and Aging Center. “So it’s never too late to improve your powers of recall.” lets look into the reasons why we forget in the first place.

1. Retrieval Failure 
          Have you ever felt like a piece of information has just vanished from memory? Or maybe you know that it's there, you just can't seem to find it. The inability to retrieve a memory is one of the most common causes of forgetting.

          So why are we often unable to retrieve information from memory? One possible explanation of retrieval failure is known as decay theory. According to this theory, a memory trace is created every time a new theory is formed. Decay theory suggests that over time, these memory traces begin to fade and disappear. If information is not retrieved and rehearsed, it will eventually be lost. One short coming of this theory is that research has demonstrated that even memories which have not been rehearsed or remembered are remarkably stable in long-term memory.


 2. Interference
          Another theory known as interference theory suggests that some memories compete and interfere with other memories. When information is very similar to other information that was previously stored in memory, interference is more likely to occur.

 There are two types of interference, proactive and retroactive.
  •  Proactive interference is when an old memory makes it more difficult or impossible to remember a new memory. 
  •  Retroactive interference occurs when new information interferes with your ability to remember previously learned information.

3. Failure to Store
          Sometimes, we just don’t store the information we take in, or just fail to store it to long-term memory. Our short-term memory can only recall about seven things in the span of about 30 seconds, and after that, it becomes more difficult. Distractions can also be a big factor in being unable to store information, whether we cause them ourselves or whether they come from outside.

4. Motivated Forgetting

          This is a theory involving voluntary suppression or unconscious repression of memories that make us feel uncomfortable, or are too traumatic to deal with. Repressed memories, however, are not a universally accepted theory, due to the near impossibility of testing the phenomenon.

Other Reasons We Forget

  • Multitasking: multitasking can play a huge part in memory failure. Switching back and forth between tasks, whether it be by choice or because of interruptions, can severely impair our ability to focus. Although you might think switching between several tasks is more productive, the sad truth is that it forces your brain to ‘reset’ each time you switch tasks. That can actually increase the time needed to complete each task.

  • we overlook defining details:  in Joseph T. Hallinan’s book “Why We Make Mistakes” Hallinan presents a page with 15 different versions of the familiar penny. The book challenges the reader to identify, from memory, the correct version that represents the common one cent piece as it actually exists. According to Hallinan, less than half of those tested choose the correct image. The reason? We know the shape and colour of a penny, which we’ve all seen many times, and have a vague idea of the rest. This is because our brains take a short cut, only storing information vital to identifying the penny as distinct from other coins.

What You Can Do

So how can we fight against our own forgetfulness? Loftus and Hallinan both have some suggestions that may help:
·         Perhaps the most helpful thing, whether it be in a journal, on your tablet, or on your phone, is creating a to-do list.

·         Take advantage of daily planning appsSchedule Planner in the Apple (and Android) store lets you set alarms, export calendars to Dropbox, and has quite a few other handy features as well.

·         EAT RIGHTThe foods you eat – and don't eat – play a crucial role in your memory. curry, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and walnuts contain antioxidants and other compounds that protect your brain health and may even stimulate the production of new brain cells.Coconut oil is another healthful fat for brain function. According to research by Dr. Mary Newport, just over two tablespoons of coconut oil (about 35 ml or 7 level teaspoons) would supply you with the equivalent of 20 grams of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), which is indicated as either a preventative measure against degenerative neurological diseases, or as a treatment for an already established case.

·         EXERCISE: Exercise encourages your brain to work at optimum capacity by stimulating nerve cells to multiply, strengthening their interconnections and protecting them from damage.
During exercise nerve cells release proteins known as neurotrophic factors. One in particular, called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health, and directly benefits cognitive functions, including learning.
·         GET A GOOD NIGHT REST: Research from Harvard indicates that people are 33 percent more likely to infer connections among distantly related ideas after sleeping,3 but few realize that their performance has actually improved. Sleep is also known to enhance your memories and help you "practice" and improve your performance of challenging skills. In fact, a single night of sleeping only four to six hours can impact your ability to think clearly the next day.

·         PLAY BRAIN GAMES: If you don't sufficiently challenge your brain with new, surprising information, it eventually begins to deteriorate. What research into brain plasticity shows us, however, is that by providing your brain with appropriate stimulus, you can counteract this degeneration.
·         Try Mnemonic Devices: Mnemonic devices are memory tools to help you remember words, information or concepts. They help you to organize information into an easier-to-remember format. Try:
o    Acronyms (such as PUG for "pick up grapes")
o    Visualizations (such as imagining a tooth to remember your dentist's appointment)
o    Rhymes (if you need to remember a name, for instance, think "Shirley's hair is curly)
o    Chunking, which is breaking up information into smaller "chunks" (such as organizing numbers into the format of a phone number)
·         Stop Multitasking! Take the time to concentrate on one task at a time, and you’ll be able to do better work faster.

·         Take a mental picture: if you often forget where you place your keys, try thinking of the items surrounding them too, when you put them down. Try to take in identifying details, like the color of the surface they are sitting on or what might be nearby.

·         Repeat what someone says back to them. This not only helps you confirm what they said, but it also lets the other person know you are listening.

·         Take a closer look, and try to take in the smaller details. This will not only help you commit things to memory, but also allow you to better understand the information.

·         Keep yourself organized. Separate your notes and documents in a way that makes sense, and use something as simple as a shoebox to keep them together and tidy.

Memory can be critical in business. Be sure to keep your memory sharp with some of these important tips.








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