Memory Improvement Made Easy : Short Term Memory

Article by Windsor Harris

Memory improvement techniques are a great help to those of us who suffer from forgetfulness and the resulting chaos in our daily lives. Memory can be defined as the ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. This ability to connect individual incidents, names, faces and locations in the context of time and to bring them together in a cohesive whole in the shape of memories is essential to living a full and satisfying life.

Memory Systems and Processes

The brain has three main memory systems: sensory memory, short term memory and long term memory. Sensory memory refers to the ability to accurately retain sensory impressions (visual, auditory and so on) on a short-term basis. The capacity of sensory memory is approximately twelve items, but it degrades very quickly and it is not possible to improve memory of this type.

Short-term memory (STM) also known as the “primary” or “active memory” refers to the brain’s capacity to hold a small amount of information in an active, readily available state for a short period of time. It usually holds around seven pieces of data and lasts approximately 12-15 seconds depending on the person.

Finally, there is the long term memory. As the name suggests, this is the information that the brain processes from the short term memory and stores for later use.

Some Helpful Memory Improvement Tips

Most memory development systems work on either the short term or the long term memories and the process by which one is converted into the other. There are a number of easily learnt memory improvement techniques that can help you enhance this process of transferring information from the short-term to the long-term memories. These include:

* Chunking: Chunking is a memory development system that is helpful in increasing the effectiveness of the short-term memory. In Chunking, a person organizes material into meaningful groups so that they are more easily recallable.

* For example, when attempting to remember a phone number, rather than trying to remember the entire string of 10 digits, you can group the digits into three chunks: the area code, a three-digit chunk and lastly a four-digit chunk. With constant practice and the usage of existing information in long-term memory, chunking can greatly improve the short-term memory.

* Short-term memory improvement exercises: these are simple, fun exercises that act as a sort of memory workout. They help maintain your existing memory levels and also prevent further memory loss.

* For instance, play a simple game of match-up. Match-up is an easy single player memory game involving 20 to 40 matched pairs of cards. The game involves shuffling the cards and laying them face down on a table in rows. Once the cards are laid out, flip over a card and try to find its match. If no match is found, flip both cards back, memorize their positions and try again. Continue this process until you have matched up all the cards.

To conclude, our memory is what enables us to recall information that we have learned or experienced, shaping our thoughts and characters and making us who we are. However, age and the stress of everyday life often cause the memory to deteriorate. Memory improvement exercises and techniques help reverse the wear of the memory and keep the brain in top condition.

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