According to the results of 10 psychological studies… Very simple activities can strengthen all types of memory
Scientists have come up with many methods and treatments that can help enhance memory of all kinds, but the strangest and most surprising of them is mentioned in an article prepared by Dr. Jeremy Dean, PhD in Psychology and founder of PsyBlog, who has been writing about scientific research in the fields of psychology since 2004, during which he reviewed a summary of the results of 10 studies in the field of psychology on ways to support and strengthen memory, as follows:
1. Drawing
Research has found that drawing pictures of words and objects helps build stronger and more reliable memories. The results of one study revealed that the quality of the graphics themselves does not matter, indicating that everyone can benefit from the technology, whatever their artistic talent.
2. Close your eyes
A study found that really closing the eyes can help trigger a memory. For example, an eyewitness to a crime remembered twice as many details using this method.
3. Imagine how you relate
A psychological study found that imagining how things relate to yourself helps enhance recall. The study tested people with and without memory problems and found that it can help both.
The results showed that whether or not people had memory problems, self-imagining was the most effective strategy. The self-imagining technique even triples what one can remember.
4. 40-second rehearsal
A study finds that rehearsing a memory for just 40 seconds can be the key to lasting recall. Psychologists have found that when rehearsing a memory, the same region of the brain is activated, specifically the posterior cingulate region, which is damaged in Alzheimer’s patients. Brain scans revealed that the more matched the activity when watching and exercising, the more people could remember.
5. Running barefoot
A study found that running barefoot improves memory more than running in shoes. The benefits come from the additional demands placed on the brain while running barefoot. For example, those who run barefoot should avoid pebbles and anything else that might hurt their feet. The study tested “working memory,” which the brain uses to recall and process information.
6. Handwriting
Research has found that typing by hand improves memory compared to typing on a physical or virtual keyboard. Kinesthetic feedback from the process of writing, along with the sense of touch of paper and pen, helps learning. Areas of the brain vital to language are activated more strongly by this physical activity.
7. Lifting weights
The results of one study revealed that a single exercise with weights can instantly boost long-term memory by about 20%. While it has been scientifically proven that aerobic exercise can enhance memory, this study is the first of its kind to look at the effects of a relatively short amount of resistance exercise. The researchers suggested that this is because weight training presents a difficult state after which memories, especially emotional ones, remain more stable.
8. Childhood activities
A study found that climbing a tree can improve working memory by 50%. The same is true for other dynamic activities such as balancing on a beam, carrying improper weights, and navigating around obstacles. “Improving working memory can have a beneficial effect on many areas of our lives, and it’s exciting to see that sensory stimulation activities can enhance it in such a short period of time,” said Dr. Tracy Alloway, one of the researchers involved in the study.