Boost your memory by growing your brain. Sue Halpern reporting in "Psychology Today in 2008 says the key to boosting your memory is the emerging science of neuroplasticity. The pioneer of this new science is neuroscientist Dr. Michael Merzenich at the University of California, San Francisco. He has discovered that your brain will actually grow new cells and connections in response to challenges and demands that go beyond its current abilities. Brain-building is a lot like muscle-building.
Hearing
Dr. Merzenich says that the auditory pathways in your brain are key to brain boosting. His observations and experimental designs have been reconfigured into a computer-based learning program by a company called Posit Science. If the program is followed exactly, its processes have been scientifically proven to measurably alter your brain and improve mental functions. According to Sue Halpern, as of 2008 no other program for boosting brain power or memory has achieved its goals under similar, rigorous scientific scrutiny.
Dr. Merzenich's theory is that over time, your brain becomes more distracted by auditory stimuli. Retraining yourself to notice finer and finer distinctions between sounds and improving your listening skills creates new and better brain connections. Your mental functions and memory improve as these new brain circuits develop and are used.
Reading
When you study, you improve your mind. This bit of common knowledge and ancient wisdom is every good teacher's favorite teaching tool. Reading is fundamental to this historic approach to learning and memory boosting.
Steve Gillman, author of "Beyond Mental Slavery," says a system of written brain games, puzzles and mentally challenging verbal tests will help you create new ideas, become more inventive, and expand your thinking in new directions. His methods rely on the time-tested "read-to-learn" model, but he also cites modern research like the work of Dr. Merzenich and others. Pushing your brain beyond your current ability and past pre-conceived limitations are the keys to your memory boosting power.
Aging Wisely
Aging is commonly associated with declining mental processes and often generates self-deprecating jokes about our own "senior moments." In 2003, Drs. D. A. Williams and M. Carey at the University of Michigan Medical School traced these declines to three specific brain functions: attention, storage and retrieval. Many of the problems people encounter with these factors are consistent with Dr. Merzenich's observation that information overload creates a kind of brain fog that leads to inattentiveness and inaccurate memories.
The University of Michigan team advises simple memory boosting strategies. Speak a thought out loud to amplify its impact and make it more memorable. Practice brain exercises like crossword puzzles, chess and daily book reading. Do as much as you can every day to stimulate all five senses: taste, touch, sight, smell and hearing. Stay physically active and never skimp on sleep.
