Blog about Health, Beauty and Sport

Problem 1 can be overcome by concentration. If one is distracted and does not store facts to start with then there is very few chance of recalling them later. memory has two phases - Short Term and Long Term memory.

It is believed that up to 50 percent of information we receive is lost nearly immediately and a further 20 percent vanishes within 24 hours. An example would be a phone number or another ten digit number. Unless a particular effort is made its gone nearly instantly. Some of these short term memories go on to become long term memories.

For instance your excellent friend’s telephone number would have started out as a short term memory but has now become part of long term memory and can be readily recalled different years later. Scientists are still uncertain as to the exact reasons why some facts are lost while others go on to make lasting memories.

However, it is safety to taking that some particular meaning is attached to that information for one cause or other. In the world of information overload we live in there are constant distractions and information competing for attention. Chances of recalling facts are vastly ameliorate by paying attention to those that we need to remember later.

There are different techniques that can be used to ensure sufficient attention to significant facts. The most general among them would be repetition. Most of us would perhaps recall having learnt our multiplication tables in this way.

Writing notes and personalizing the facts ie. writing ideas in one’s own words also helps. However, it is significant not to fall into the trap of relying on notes as a substitute for remembering. Notes must be used to reinforce a memory not as an alternative to it.

Writing down facts surrounding and supporting an idea as well as the theory and methodology leading up to determined facts also help in recall. Complex mathematical formulae would be an example. Formulae comprised of abstract symbols and numbers can generally be quite heavy to recall on their own.

However, if one commits to memory the principles from which the formula is derived the symbols often become a lot easier to recall. Understanding the concepts behind the final outcome makes things smaller fuzzy.

The fuzzier things are the harder they are to remember. Breaking down facts into manageable chunks to concentrate on helps immensely as well as there is a limit on how many information can be assimilated at a given time.

Avoiding distractions is other significant consideration in ensuring that the facts are stored right - it is a lot harder replace wrong information than it is to store it right in the first seat.

Problems 2 and 3 are closely connected to how we recall information. Memories are made by creating connections - connections with experiences through all our senses. Probably you have had the experience of a scent or sound triggering a memory of long ago.

The more connections we make the better the chances of recall. This is why mnemonics are commonly used as an help to memory. The more ridiculous or unusual the association the more likely it is to be recalled rather than fade into insignificance among the millions of another connections.

Using mental pegs is other technique that works very well. Associate facts with unusual images or rhymes. For instance to remember names and faces one may look at a prominent facial feature, make an exaggerated version of it and connect it with the name. Speak Leon with rather long hair may become a mental image of a Lion with a mane. Lion then quickly converts to Leon making it a lot easier than simply trying to recall the name of the guy with long hair!

Unfortunately as we age our brains begin to degenerate and memory deteriorates along with it. There are 4 main reasons for this degeneration.